Obtaining Mercy

Why Not?

 

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!!!  

 

Thankful on Tuesday

 

I think...

I just might...

Be feeling better!!!

Yay!

How Great is Our God!!!

 

 

No surgery needed for Isaac!!!

The shunt was actually drawing too much fluid from his brain, which causes the same symptoms as if it were not working well. They adjusted it with a magnet and sent them on their way!

THANK YOU for your prayers! God certainly showed up and answered them!!

 So very grateful,

Alesha

 

Thankful on Tuesday

 

I am thankful...

• That Isaac has not had fever since Sunday.  (That is after Friday's trip to the ER, his diagnoses of pneumonia, I.V. antibiotics and lots of acetominaphen and ibuprofen.)
• That Doug only has bronchitis and sinusitis, and NOT pneumonia, although the doctor said he was on the verge of it.  (He is now on 2 rounds on heavy antibiotics, cough meds and acetominaphen.)
• That I was feeling just well enough from my bout of sickness to take care of them both over the weekend.
• For my wonderful family who fed us and brought us groceries.
• For my wonderful friends who kept in close touch, in case I needed anything.
• That my mom's washing machine is right next door, since ours died last week.
• That our truck keeps running, even though the "check engine" light has been coming on since Friday, but there hasn't been time or energy to get it to the shop.
• That God meets every need, in His time, before the load becomes more than we can bear.

What are you thankful for today???

 

Anniversary Adjectives

 

hot

overwhelming

yummmmy

perky

unusual

 mediocre

ingenious

 

cushiony

long-awaited

 

favorite



decadent

impressive

We ate.

We walked.

We laughed.

We laughed ALOT!

It was an exceptional day to be together.

The best adjective to describe it:

Blessed.

Thankful on Tuesday

I am so thankful for music.

Sometimes I forget just how much it can minister to the soul and spirit.

On Sunday, I was feeling particularly low.

I was grieving the loss of friends.

I was sorrowing that those friends are no longer walking according to Scripture.

I was contemplating my role in their decision to live an unGodly manner.

I was feeling guilty and sad and angry and exhausted in the midst of my mental ramblings.

Thankfully, I did not mullygrub in those thoughts all afternoon.  I dwelt on them for a bit, talked them over with Doug, and moved my mind and focus onto other things.

But I have to tell you that those emotions continued to color the rest of my afternoon.  I felt moody and lethargic and reluctant.

Eventually it was time for choir practice and I dragged myself there.  Honestly, had I not been singing in the evening service, I would have been so tempted to stay home.  But the Lord knew well beforehand what emotions would overtake me, and planned out the schedule and led our director to plan it just so...and I had to be there!

We started practice, and I felt my spirits start to revive.  My energy level rose.  My sadness disipated.  My anger waned.  I was able to focus on notes and parts and timing; and the music ministered to my heart.

I thought the really odd thing was that we were practicing patriotic songs for next Sunday.  They were not even songs that spoke to my need or to the circumstances in my life.

Simply the act of singing, the discipline of singing truth when I didn't feel like it, the focusing on things that were good and right...helped me so much!

Praise the Lord for music - good music - that honors Him.

I'm appreciative of a church that encourages our participation in the music service.

Thank the Lord for a music director who is in tune with the Lord's leading.

I am grateful for music and for the way it moves me along, in spite of circumstances or emotion, to focus on Christ.

Thank for, Father, for meeting my need, by allowing me to worship YOU with my voice!

Thankful on Tuesday

Thankful:

• Isaac is healing well.  He is feeling much better
• Doug was able to take Ike to church on Sunday, for the hour of children's church.  He did really well for about 45 minutes.
• Isaac's cough is almost completely stopped and his cold seems to be gone.
• My cough/cold is gradually getting better.
• I had a refill of an antibiotic here, from March when I had the same sinus/bronchial infection, so I didn't need to go to the doctor.
• My costochondritis is clearing up - almost no pain over the weekend, just a little yesterday and today, and I think I just need an adjustment at the chiro.
• My a/c is working well.  The near 100* temps have really warmed us up down here in central Florida!
• The post-traumatic stress that I always feel after a hospital visit/surgery for Ike, seems to be waning.  It really does a number on me, emotionally and physically, when he goes through these things.  I do feel a little better today.
• I was able to "attend" church over the weekend, via streaming video.  It is NOT the same as being there, but when being there is not an option, it is a HUGE blessing to be able to watch the services of my church.
• The music was beautiful on Sunday and really ministered to my spirit.
• I have wonderful friends who pray for me when I am not doing well.  They don't get tired of the seemingly endless things that "go wrong" for me and for Isaac; and they continue to pray for us.  It is a real blessing to us!

I am hoping that YOU can find many reasons to be "Thankful on Tuesday", too!  I'd love to hear about them!

Blessings,

Alesha

Surgery for Isaac and Prayer Around the World

Whew!  What a whirlwind 20 hours it has been!  Not even a full day - it's hard to believe.

Last night, Isaac would not go to sleep and we could tell that he was in pain.  Eventually we saw some swelling in his groin area.

We got him into the children's hospital as quickly as we could (around 1 a.m. this morning) and after sonagrams and x-rays, it was determined that Isaac had this condition.

They took him into surgery immediately.  Unfortunately, the condition had damaged the left side and it could not be saved.  Fortunately, the surgery was short and he had no complications.

We were sent home within 5 hours of his surgery.  He has been resting easy, with no complaining about pain or discomfort, since we arrived home.

I was so grateful for the many prayer warriors who stormed the throne of the Father on Isaac's behalf. 

• It was amazing to have friends in the mid-west pick up the prayers as soon as we put it up on Facebook. 
• They were soon joined by my west coast friends. 
• It wasn't long after that before I heard from my friend in Japan who joined the prayer chain. 
• Then my early rising east coast friends completed the circle, as they read and prayed for Isaac,
• Followed quickly by another set of folks from the mid-west!

Isn't that just the most incredible thing?  We were amazed and awed to know that Isaac was being lifted in prayer all around the world.

We are - truly - so thankful for each of you who prayed for us!

Thank you!

Alesha

 

Thankful on Tuesday

I'm thankful that Isaac's caregiver will be back tomorrow, after 3 days' absence.

I'm thankful for Overstock.com codes that save me $5 on my order.

I'm thankful for computer-printed coupons to Michaels that save me 15% off items already 40% off!

I'm thankful for businesses that do what they say they will do.  (Magazines.com did an automatic renewal on a subscription I ordered last year.  I contacted them, told them I did not want the magazine, and they refunded my full amount!)

I'm thankful for new business cards that shipped out early!!!

I'm thankful that, in one week's time  - if the Lord wills, all goes well with Isaac, all goes well with his caregiver, all goes well with me, and the creek don't rise - I will spend just a few hours with some lovely friends looking at a scene very much like this one, but in REAL life!!!

 

Oh, yeah, r-e-a-l-l-y looking forward to that!

So...what are YOU thankful for today?

Thankful on Tuesday

 - Today I am thankful for all the nights that Isaac sleeps through the night.  (When you have a night when he doesn't sleep, it tends to make you grateful for the nights that he does sleep.)

 - Today I am thankful that we didn't plan to take Isaac to therapy today.  He would have been one miserable pup! 

 - Today I am thankful that we are getting our headlight on the truck fixed, and that during the past 2 months that it was out, we did not get a ticket.

 - Today I am thankful for quiet days at home with the men in my life...especially when they get along so well together.

 - Today I am thankful for you, too. :)  Thanks for stopping by...I really appreciate it.

 - Today, what are you thankful for?