God Story- $605.23

My apologies for not getting this post up on Friday like I anticipated, but here it is now :) 

As I type this story, I think of God's faithfulness and pure goodness.

What an awesome God we serve!

On September 5th I was asked by a certain woman how much

more money I needed to raise for Haiti. 

She told me she was praying for me. 

My answer: exactly $1,200 more.

On September 11th, I gave her a BIG praise report that I only had half that

amount to raise left, only $605.23. 

(I actually even posted about it HERE)

 I thanked her for praying and said

He is providing!

 I was in awe of God to read her response back:

 She said that my trip to Haiti had been heavily pressed
 upon her heart by the Holy Spirit...

and that she was humbled to give the remaining $605.23.

She had been praying to The Lord about how much to give and had 

the answer of $600 and was so overwhelmed, overjoyed, and extremely excited

by God's working that she couldn't resist giving the extra $5.

She said it's all because of Him and for Him!

(AMEN. It sure is!)

On September 12, I wrote this on Facebook:

"Today on the 12th (12 days before everything is due) the additional 1,200 I needed this past week, that dwindled down to $605.23 yesterday is paid 100% and I am fully funded for Haiti!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't you love surprises?! God gives the BEST ones!"

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This is what I now see on my Managed Missions Account:

He has amazed me again and again through the love of many...

who's hearts have been moved to give. 

How can you ever begin to say thank you? 

I could never do it all on my own.

It takes the whole Church.

The whole Body. 

He provided! 

From Texas to Australia and all over

my state of Michigan- He provided!

He is Faithful!

Thank You God! Thank You! Thank You!

Thank you!

Thank you to all who gave, donated, helped, prayed, encouraged, and came out to the yard sale this past Saturday. It was a big success! The weather was beautiful and I met so many amazing people in the community- truly, I am so thankful! I will continue to raise money while preparing to go back to Haiti this fall. Know that every bit (help, time, donated items, etc.) is dearly appreciated. 

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

May God bless each of you.

p.s. -I made/laminated bookmarks for anyone to take at the yard sale and I saw this one left on the table with a rainbow of light around the picture. Remember my 7 beautiful colors God Story? I still see those rainbows everywhere and in perfect places... truly as it says below: "To God be the Glory"

God Story- Lilies of the Field

Don't you love these Spring blooms? 

Last Saturday night I was given an unexpected amount of money.

And on Sunday morning, the very next day...

I was surprised by an unexpected need that had to be met.

The amount of money was exactly the same 

to the dollar and cent.

WOW God!!!

He met the need before I ever knew there

was going to be one the next day.

Just another reminder of many that...

He is Faithful to provide the exact need!

Which reminds me of these verses:

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

  “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.   

-Matthew 6:28-34

How have you seen His Faithfulness 

in your life lately?

God Story--- A Divine Appointment (PART 1)

There has been many amazing things happening.

Many God stories.

Stories ONLY He could write.

Things ONLY He could do.

I am SO thankful Lord!

S.O.    t.h.a.n.k.f.u.l.

Today I feel led to share a glimpse of this one...

At the beginning of last week I sent an email to someone that God clearly put upon my heart.

I prayed about it and gave it to God.

THEN last Thursday as I was driving the boys to swim class...

This person came upon my heart suddenly again 

and I started to pray.

I remember saying: 

"Lord, I'm just gonna give it to You. 

If you want me to be a part of this, 

I know You will make a way."

A few minutes later when I arrived to the class this person was sitting in a chair right at the door!

 WOW God!!!

She takes care of children as well.

Turns out- a few of the children were being taught at the SAME time as one of the boys I take care of.

I had only met her once before

 and it had been almost exactly a year since then.

I started talking with her and I'm just amazed at God!

(There are so many connecting things in our lives.)

Really.

He orchestrates 

things that I could never ever

__dream_ or_plan__

He gives the best surprises too!

 Sister in Christ, I am excited to see you very soon :)

Thank You Lord for Your divine appointments!

God Story--- The Fork in the Road

 Several years ago, God called me to be obedient about a major life change.

 I stood at a fork in the road about this HUGE life decision.

You know the one where your forced to choose 

in order to move 

EVEN. ONE. MORE. STEP. AHEAD.

Life is full of these.

AND your response (your choice)...

does influence (and alter) the lives of those around you.

I marvel at God because as I type this, He is showing me all the people

who's lives would be different now if I made the other choice.

Over a dozen lives are directly affected. TODAY.

...because of this decision.

 When I stood at this fork in the road...

my eyesight could only see a little way down each direction.

I couldn't see very far.

I couldn't see the outcome that ONE LED TO DESTRUCTION

and that the OTHER LED TO DIVINE GRACE. 
(The Lord by His grace spared me MUCH trouble.)

God wanted me to go down the path that looked challenging.

The one that looked full of mountains and paved in rocks of struggle.

The road that instantly would take me out of my comfort zone.

The one where I just couldn't do it on my own anymore.

And I knew I would have to lean on Him to make it through.  

He beckoned: "Do you trust Me?"

I wanted to go down the smooth paved path though.

It seemed safer.

My flesh craved to go on the road that looked like it dodged the mountains.

One that seemed easier too... 

I desired the wrong kind of security.

 I was scared to move, but I knew I had to make a choice to go forward.
Either one way or the other.

Still He beckoned: "Do you trust Me?"

God called me to make an unpopular choice. 

 It meant I had to choose to either follow the sheep.

Or follow the Shepard.

I followed Him

Was it hard? Yes. 

I thought of Noah building the ark, no one understood him.

But he was obedient. 

I was labeled crazy for taking the path He beckoned me to.

So much so...

 that some people that I loved dearly

 said some very unkind and untrue things about me.

Things that I have forgiven.

They didn't understand.

I prayed they would...

desperately prayed!

But God said: "Not here, they won't understand here, but one day they will..."

"still follow Me now when they don't understand."

Again He beckoned: "Do you trust Me?"

 I had become so weary of sharing about the decision that I made.

No one understood.
Except Him.

A sweet friend (we'll call her "D" ;) from out of state called me one day.

 She told me the she was contacted by someone who was spreading hurtful things about me.

She then asked me what was going on in my world.

I remember thinking: "Lord, I really don't want to talk about this with one more person. 
No one understands"

He helped me find the right words though. He helped me share the story again.

What happened was AMAZING!

She was encouraged that I took the road I was on.

... following and trusting God and not the world or my flesh in this circumstance.

AND THEN...

She said she wanted to follow God too.

And that she thought she should go to church.

Fast forward a few months later. 

My friend,  "D" calls back to tell me that not only is she attending church,

but that she is thinking about joining a bible study...

and wants to know more of God's Word.

Fast forward some more months to this past summer

"D" calls excited (right as I'm preparing to leave for Haiti)
to tell me that she wants to follow Jesus

with her life and that she was baptized!

WOW God!

I was amazed as I heard all these things.

When I asked her many months ago what sparked her interest to make the decision to live for Christ....

She reminded me of that first phone conversation that we had. 

(Remember the one where someone had spread hurtful things to her about me 

and I didn't want to share my story with one other person.)

God intervened with my selfishness and reminded me that it was His story.

He gave me the words. He helped me to share the story again.

She said that she grew up Unitarian (which I did not know beforehand) and did not believe in God and that talking to me sparked her interest more about Him. (EDIT: I had "D" read this story and she said that she DID believe in God beforehand, but hadn't really expressed it yet. Now she is growing in Him day by day! I want this blog to always be full of TRUTH, which means I need to be corrected sometimes ;) Thank You Lord for Your correction!)

WOW God! 
Only You could do something like this!

"D"--- Lord willing, I will see you on your side of the country one day soon
and give you a big ol' hug! 

I'm so happy about what He is doing in your life

UPDATE: I will be visiting "D" SOON- Thank you Jesus!!!
 (with permission)  meet Dana aka "D"

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Don't be afraid to take the difficult path...

even if you are misunderstood by all your friends, family, and co-workers...

and even *gasp* by the people at your church too.

Follow the Shepard, not the sheep.

Trust Him.

Take the path He beckons you to.

Trust Him.

He is for you.

"You intended to harm me,  

but God intended it for good 

 to accomplish what is now being done, 

the saving of many lives." -Genesis 50:20

Later today...

My heart is full of praises to God! The Lord is doing SO much and I am ever grateful to Him.
Even in the tough circumstances... there is still MUCH to praise Him about.   
A.L.W.A.Y.S. MUCH.

God is breaking up the hardened soil.
It seems in every tough circumstance and in every hardened heart close to me:
 God is breaking it all up!

He is breaking up the soil.
He is planting good seeds.
He is preparing for a harvest.
Something only God Almighty could do!

I will share a fun God Story later today.
One that has everything to do with remembering God's faithfulness.
A story that I've had on my heart for quite sometime.
Today for whatever reason happens to be the right time to share it. 

It's a story that reminds me that He takes what the enemy meant for our harm..
the painful...

and turns it around... 

into something wonderful, 

into something good, 

into an opportunity that leads others to Him.

So please stay tuned...

PS- I would like to pray for you. (Yes you reading this :) I have an open invitation: 

 YOU are always welcome to ask for prayer.
 Comment or privately email me with any prayer requests. 

So need prayer? Don't be shy to ask.
 I read every comment and every email. 
I pray for each request.
Reading them brightens my day for sure! 
 I love hearing from you.
Above all--- it is a joy and blessing to pray for each of you
 through your struggles 
and trials 
AND to celebrate in the victory 
as He rescues, heals, and answers prayers in each one of our lives! 

 When things look impossible: HE MAKES A WAY!

To God be the glory.

God Story--- The Cloud

I have a sweet treat for YOU this Valentine's Day! 

Another story created by the Author of Romance.

3 years ago, late in the Springtime

I was sitting on my parent's deck...

enjoying the beautiful weather and listening to the birds.

I like all the seasons, but Spring is my favorite!

To me nothing is better than walking down a sidewalk...

with tree after tree in flowery bloom...

and being showered with blossoms from the heavens.

(I also like it in Michigan because you are finally able to take your jacket off!)

Spring reminds me of new life...

growth...

And LOVE.

This is why I've truly been a proponent of wanting to get married in the Spring. ;)

...Anyways as I was sitting on their deck...

I was thinking "Wow it's amazing that The One who created all of

these beautiful things throughout nature, created me. And the kicker- HE LOVES ME TOO?!?!

Really, Wow God!" 

Just then I look up and a HUGE cloud starts to float by my vision...

across the gorgeous blue sky.

I love hearts and I knew what this cloud was in the shape of instantly.

A heart.

I was in awe because I knew God placed it there for me to see.

I had to take a picture...

there would be no other way I could explain this to anyone...

I went inside, stumbled around in the darkness of their house...

(I had just gone from the bright light outside to inside)

searching for my phone... and quickly...

Finally I found it.

Grabbed it.

Took it outside.

And although by the time I took it, it's perfect heart-shape form had been distorted by the wind...

this is the picture I was able to take:

heart cloud (seen before my eyes)

May you remember today that His love is seen all around us. Even in nature.

 May The One who created every kind of flower...

The Author of Romance.

The One who defines what LOVE is.

The one who is LOVE.

Surprise You today...

(single or not you may be)

 this Valentine's Day

 and leave you in awe of what He has created for you to enjoy!

His gifts are the best! Better than chocolate. Guaranteed.

God Story--- Our Miracle Orchestrating God

I have an AWESOME story to share that happened yesterday... something ONLY God could orchestrate! I stand yet again in awe of You, God.

This weekend I was preparing to teach the Preschool Sunday School class. 

As usual, I was looking over the material for the lesson and praying. The lesson was about God orchestrating a miracle and saving baby Moses. I was so excited to teach the children this story! (Exodus 2:1-10) 

In my heart, I can just imagine the frightened mother nursing her son frequently... attempting to keep him quiet as she hid him. I wonder if she grew more bonded to him by the moment for three long months. Oh, how she must of felt as she placed him into that basket... 

(Could she have ever been prepared to know then the plans God had for this helpless little baby?)

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

God still orchestrates miracles!

E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y.

Things still happen that doctors cannot explain...

Come expecting a miracle because...

He still gives sight to the blind. 

He still heals the cancer.

He still makes the lame to walk.

(On a side note: Last February my kidneys were failing at an 80% rate. I was in the hospital on morphine for pain... when I was prayed over... and the next day God completely healed my kidneys and blood levels. Praise God! EVERY doctor tried to explain how that could happen scientifically, but couldn't give me any real explanation.)

When preparing for the lesson about God saving baby Moses... 

The Lord brought a 3-year old that I've met to my mind.

Before I even knew what the lesson was He brought him to my mind

and once again after I knew what I would be teaching... 

He brought this little boy to my mind again.

The 3-year old boy is an orphan, one I met in Haiti.

Perfectly named...
Moses.

(Funny enough...Out of all my favorite pictures from Haiti...

with so many children that I've fallen in love with there... 

my profile picture happens to be one I chose of him and I.)

Moses is a joy-filled child.

He is the happiest, most pleasant child to be around.

Despite losing his home (the orphanage) from an earthquake...

Despite living in a tent with no fans...

in a country where the heat index can exceed 120 degrees...

Despite limited food and clean water...

Despite no shoes...

Despite little clothing...

Moses is FILLED with joy. His laughter consumes you... and your left in smiles.

His giggles feel as if they are being poured down from Heaven above.

Moses is also unable to walk.  

 

And even despite this obstacle he is still full of laughter and joy.

When God brought Him to my mind the second time...
I grabbed some pictures of him to take to preschool.

                                                    After I taught the lesson (yesterday)....

  I pulled out a few pictures of Haiti and then a few of Moses

Pointing to the pictures... saying: 

"Boys and girls, Miss. Alisha went to a country called Haiti. 

There many people's homes look like this." (Pointing to a picture that I held up.)

"Many children there walk barefoot..."

"And many children have little food and water.

I met a little boy there also named Moses." (I held up and pointed to a picture of him.)

I explained a little more of his situation to them
and then said: "How about we pray for him.

What should we pray?"

Without skipping a beat...
 little curly headed, Maria holds up her hand really high.

I call on her.
"For him to have food and for his legs to work."

The preschoolers (mostly made up of 4 year old children) began to join me in prayer for Moses.

There are no words for that...

Maria's request and child-like faith was simply beautiful.

After Sunday School was over... something interesting happened during the church service...

 The message the pastor preached was on miracles.

The title of the message was called:

I remember thinking in my head: "If he preaches on the lame man (by the pool) who Jesus made to walk, that would be crazy."

He did.

Not only did he preach on it, 
but he focused in on preaching this miracle.

John 5:8-9:  "Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked."

(The man had an encounter with Jesus!)

God has a special plan for Moses' life. I just know it!

I pray... believing that he too will have an encounter with Jesus!

Let's STILL believe in miracles!

Let's believe...
 and let's praise Him! 

The first miracle Jesus did in my life:  

was when...

He took me in,
a sinner.

I repented
and He simply forgave me.

I was saved, 

I was born-again, 

I was cleaned.

I was given the greatest gift ever... Jesus.

A gift that NEVER fades. To have forever. Always.
Now for all eternity I can be with Him.

Now for all eternity I have hope. 
He adopted me.
God became my Father.
...and He made me royalty.
A daughter of The King.

A filthy, hopeless sinner I was.
No direction in life. No meaning in life.
THEN He came, gave me meaning to everything!

ALL by the powerful blood shed by Jesus Christ.

...this is the HUGEST miracle I've ever experienced to date.

You can experience this too!
(Have questions? Email me at newmerciesdaily@gmail.com)

Through Christ alone. 

He is Our Miracle Orchestrating God!!!

Fun God Story--- 7 Beautiful Colors

(Side note--- I've been wanting to write this and have been praying about it... and I saw SO many THESE ;) today... ALL the pictures I took and posted here... ALL (EVERY single one of these pictures was taken today... awesome God!)

    
      About 3 and 1/2 years ago, I found myself (not thinking) and walking into a store with my Bible in hand. I remember wondering why in the world, I would grab it from the seat of my car and start to bring it into the store to pick up groceries. When I realized what I was doing, I started to head back to my old car to put it back in. As I got to my car, I opened the door and tossed my Bible on the seat.

      Later, after shopping and putting my purchases away, I looked over to the seat where my Bible was. It lay there opened up. A car had pulled up next to mine and the sun reflecting on the car's paint and through my window had created a rainbow on one of the pages. I looked over to see what verse the rainbow was colorfully placed over.  I couldn't believe it! It was the verses in Genesis talking about God's covenant and His creation of the rainbow! I was amazed!!! I know, that I know, that I know--- it was placed there by Almighty God! (It related directly to what I had been talking to Him about earlier that day.) I praised God!

This story doesn't end there though! Oh, No. There is more!

Because soon after this took place, some days later... I was on my knees.. CRYING out to God about something taking place in my life. I opened up my Bible to read it and when I did... a verse jumped out at me. It was Jeremiah 33:3. The verse says: "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." I started to pray this verse, desperately wanting to see God and have Him physically hold me through the pain my heart was going through.

I was in a fairly dark room in a basement, with the lights off and as I opened up my eyes from praying and crying... the sun pierced through the high widows behind me... creating DOZENS of beautifully, bright, colorful rainbows all around me on the ground of this dark room. It took my breath away... so, so, so beautiful. Truly, God was showing me something great. I was on holy ground. Not only did I know He was (is) in my heart, but I knew He was also all around me. My awesome God!

My hand colored in a rainbow today.

Recently Little J (the 3 year old I nanny for) pointed out a rainbow being cast on the ceiling of a room. God reminded me of these past moments I've had once again. I've now been seeing rainbows everywhere and daily. It's awesome! (I'm not talking about pictures either, but the real thing... whether it be cast through a window, reflected from a glass of water, or in the sky!) Each time I see one, I think of God and how He is near me all the time and always ready to listen. I love it and oh my, oh my, oh my-- do I love Him.

Stepping into a rainbow in the living room today.

     A rainbow is made up of 7 colors. White light is really made up of 7 colors AS IS, but we don't see the colors AS THEY ARE until they are sent through either water or some other sort of prism to unveil them before our eyes.

This one was cast on the ceiling today.

     A few weeks ago I was welcomed into a Bible Study group, as soon as I got there, it just so happened that they were talking about the rainbow and God's covenant. I realized then that these stories are too fun, not to share. God is good and loves to surprise us with things. A rainbow set up in the sky is a beautiful promise from God Almighty. Rainbows also represent something else very important ... the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

This one was cast on the wall today.

     

     Rainbows in this culture are used to represent several things... the true image of them is distorted... It's no wonder the enemy of this world would be out to deceive the TRUE meaning of them... since after all they are the very likeness of the glory of the Lord.     Beautiful white light that's really 7 colors!


     From the first time and every time after I heard the "Revelation Song" by Phillips, Craig, and Dean... the lyrics that jump(ed) out at me was/were: "clothed in rainbows of living color." Truly our God is clothed in living, bright, beautiful, color!

   "Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord." -Ezekiel 1:28


     When Ezekiel saw this, he fell on his face and (after he did) heard the voice of God speaking. How awesome is that!?!? (I encourage you to read more of Ezekiel--- God's Word is amazing!)



             Holy, Holy, Holy is our Lord God Almighty. 
                   Who was and is and is yet to come!


     

 

my parents house

I got out of work early today, so I drove to my parents house. It's been weeks since I've stopped over. We have a lot of people in our family, so there is always someone over and some sort of excitement going on.

I love spending time with them and at one point I was laughing so hard, I almost peed my pants. Haha (Others were snorting n' such, but we won't say any names ;) I felt like I couldn't breath I was laughing so hard.

Don't you just love those moments?! You know, when your laughing so hard that everything seems right in the world for a moment. Like a slice of heaven on earth. Laughter is the best medicine after a hard week!


P.S.-I have a fun God story to share on my heart... But tonight I'm too tuckered, so in the near future I plan to share it :)