Gateways to Joy

I wonder where I will be 31 days from now?  These next 31 days will be intense as I will focus like I never have before on things that are important to me.  Things that I usually just push to the side and say that I will get another day. You see I'm a homeschool mom.  I blog for two blogs (both blogs are participating in the challenge--don't know if it is called a challenge, but it's one for me).  The topics are very different.  Not only that, but I just moved and still have so much to put away, and I'm trying to get my online business off the ground.  Not to mention that I now have kids, a husband, and a business partner. Oh, yeah, I forgot all about my ladies . . . I am a leader for the (in)courage group Gateway to Joy. I like what the Nester titled her last writing challenge: Home.  By choice. That's me.  I've been home by choice for 19 years.  I still want to be home, but I want to generate an income from my home.  I'm rea...

Today in my Gateway to Joy group this is what I'm discussing with the women. I decided to pose the same question to you all. The way you keep your house, the way you organize your time, the care you take in your personal appearance, the things you spend your money on, all speak loudly about what you believe. The beauty of thy peace shines forth in an ordered life. A disordered life speaks loudly of a disordered soul. Elisabeth E. Challenge: This week we will continue doing the next thing while working at having an ordered life. Ponder: Is your life beautiful because of God's Peace shinning forth in your ordered life or is your soul disordered? Do you agree with what Elisabeth says? Why? Why not? Do you think this quote and challenge can be a gateway to joy for you? If so, how? If not, why not? xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

Today is the day that we began our new fall session with our (in)courager groups.  My group is called Gateway to Joy , of course.  The group will close when it reaches 30 women, right now we have 27!  Maybe God is holding that spot for you sister.  Why don't you go here  and see if this is for you. Today I want to talk about 'God is Able.'  That is the title of Priscilla Shirer's new book.  She's starting something new at her blog, Going Beyond , that I am really looking forward to participating in.  Here's what she's doing: Do you have a God is able story that you can share? I would love to hear it! I shared one of my stories yesterday in the comment section over at Going Beyond, but last night my husband and I were driving to our house from Starbucks and he remembered something that I'd forgotten. He said, "Angie do you remember before we moved to this neighborhood you had to bring one of the girls over here for Girl's Scout and...

Hey ladies, I am thrilled to be able to introduce my new group with you (in)couragers - Gateway to Joy . What is an (in)couragers group? (in)couragers groups are a small group of like minded women who meet on Facebook.   Last fall and spring I led and co-led the Pursuing Proverbs 31 Group. This fall session, I will once again lead a group, Gateway to Joy.  Registration for this group begins today September 16th - September 20th.  There is only room for 30 women, after the group reaches 30 anyone who signs up will be placed a waiting list for either the next session or if someone drops out. If you want more information on my group, Gateway to Joy, or would like to join the group, I would love to have you.  All you have to do is go here -----> (in)couragers - Gateway to Joy And remember, "Everything if given to God can become your gateway to joy." Elisabeth Elliot. God bless you and I look forward to hearing from you! To see (in)courager...

I'm trying something new today.  I am participating over at Deidra Riggs blog, Jumping Tandem.  She has a Sunday community where we can post a blog with picture and inspirational words. So, what inspirational word do I have for you today? Create. Create, weather it be with words, pictures, art, song, dance . . . in whatever way you create.  Create.  I'm finding out that creating brings a song to my heart and it soothes me. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ~ Genesis 1:1 For more inspirational photographs and words please visit Jumping Tandem, Sunday Community  xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

I'm thinking about "wills" this morning.  Not the kind that we leave when we die, but the will that God gives each of us.  I'm asking myself, "What is the real purpose of this blog? "What is God's will for it, for me being online, for me writing?" The conclusion that I've come to, as it pertains to blogging, and anything that I'm doing online, is to help those who read my words want a deeper, meaningful and intimate relationship with Christ.  I started thinking about how I feel when I listen to women such as Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and, of course, Elisabeth Elliot among many, many others.  What I love is how they have the ability to stir the Spirit of God in me.  I feel like their messages do what Psalm 143:10-11 talk about.   They help get my mind in a place where I am willing to let God's Spirit lead me on level ground.  They stir the Spirit in me. That's what my heart desire is to do for you.   I want to stir the Sp...

I woke up feeling a bit overwhelmed this morning about leading this group and writing for this cause . I mean come on, "Who am I?" Who am I that someone will listen to me?  I'm ordinary.  Very ordinary. Instantly upon having this thought, God reminded me of His talk with Moses .  And I remember that when God calls His children to a task He equips us. What is "I AM" calling you to do that is making you feel scared, uncomfortable or overwhelmed? Don't let your heart be troubled by the call dear one because when He calls you He equips you. ******** The group that I will be leading is (in)courage - Gateway to Joy.  Open registration begins September 16, 2013 and it ends September 20. I will write more on it Monday, but in the meantime here's a video to introduce you to the amazing women who work tirelessly behind the scenes with the ministry of (in)courage.   ********* Okay, now to my second project. The cause that I fe...

This morning while reading some old devotionals of Elisabeth Elliot, I came across one where she talked about being worn out from caring for her second husband who was dying from cancer. I thought it was interesting when she said sometimes all we can do is give God our fear and pain .  "Gosh, that is so true," I thought to myself. What are you fearing today dear sister? Are you in pain, physical, spiritual, emotionally or mental? Whatever your fear or pain today, take it to God.  He cares and He wants to help.  He's there for you and for me. He biddens us: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

This morning I was scrolling through Facebook when I came across this picture. It made me think about how selfish and skewed our views have become.  By no means do I want to do an abortion debate, but at the same time I'm looking at this little 19 week old fetus thinking, "Who needs a medical doctor to tell them if this is a baby or not?" We can be so intelligent about so many things in this country, but to ease our guilt of acting upon our selfish behavior because some choose to discard their babies like they discard their trash our country seeks out medical professionals to say, "No at this point of gestation, it isn't a baby." It's crap. Regardless of what you want to call your baby at a particular trimester, there is life forming inside of you and when you do something to end a life, you kill what is forming.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. I'm all for my right to choose when it comes to decision about m...