Gateways to Joy

This weekend was far more than what I've usually experienced at women conferences. There were so many siesta's in the American Airlines Center —20,000 was the unofficial count given to me.  Yes, that many women give or take a few. Let me just tell you that feeding off the adrenaline rush of so many excited women will not only be an experience that I carry with me for a life time, but it is one that I put in the category of being "Over the top" for sure! Not to mention that I think my husband is "Over the top" with coolness for being brave enough to come with me! Men who worked the conference and women attendees constantly came up to my man saying, "I bet you've never been around so many women before in your life?" Indeed it was a shocker for him when we arrived to see so many sisters standing in line waiting for the doors to open. He was surprised and deeply moved by the crowd, but he was touched even more by seeing "strangers...

And so my weekend begins . . . I'm over the top with excitement friends.  I still can't believe that the door has been opened for me to experience such a life changing event. I say life changing 'cause I know God is doing a work.  It's not by accident that I'm going to this conference.  For sure, He's taking me out of my comfort zone.  I just pray that I will stay out of His way, you know?  I want to allow Him to do what He wills.  Not just this weekend, but all the time.  Specifically though, I'm in wonderment with Him wanting me to be at this conference.  I'm wondering what will be my "Aha!  Oh, this is what He wanted me to hear moment?" For now I leave you with the Women of Faith video {don't forget to scroll down to quiet the music} . Blessings to you! The next time you hear from me I will either be in my hotel room or at the conference. Until then . . . For those of you who has sent me e-mails, I will reply tonigh...

Well my dear friends, the time is approaching and the anticipation is killing me! The "what if's" and "I wonder?" I'm so glad my husband is going with me!  Who better to have???  You can bet I'll be leaning on him.  At first I thought one of my closes lady friend and I would go together, than I thought my mom and I would, but it is not to be. Just to let you know up front, you may get several post from me Friday and Saturday trying to keep you updated on the blog.  I know I will feed streams of going ons to Twitter and Facebook, but I know that some of you don't yet embrace the social media technology so I will try to place a few things here too. As of now, I'm trying to learn how to send photos to Twitter.  I tweet, but I've never added photos to Twitter, only my personal Facebook.  I saw the other day where they have added an app where I can just click??? Anyway, pleeeease send me the "how tos" on uploading photos to Twi...

Homeless!  Pawning clothing for money!  Talk about saving the best for last! Andy Andrews, the final person on our showcase and the only man is a New York Times Bestselling Author.  And to think he was rejected by publishing houses over 40 times in a three year span. Andy has a story, an inspiring message, one that you certainly want to hear. Please click on the video below {scroll down to hush the music} to learn more about this man of faith. **************************************************************************************** "God through the Holy Spirit interceding within us, uses everyday circumstances to touch the whole world with His saints." ~ Oswald Chambers It is my sincere hope that you are being touched by God through the writing of this blog, no matter what shore you reside on beloved one. xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

Katherine Everett will be part of the entertainment this weekend for The Woman of Faith, Over the Top Conference in Dallas! I'd not heard of Katharine prior to seeing the line-up for the conference.   Fresh Brewed Life did a Q&A with the young actress where she talks about " looking forward to the unique cha ll enge of a one woman performance."   I look forward to seeing Katherine test her acting skills, from what I've gathered so far I think we will be in for a treat. Below is a videos showcasing the actress.  Don't forget to hush the music :-) *****************   xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

"Show me my purpose, Lord."  I remember that being my first thought right after accepting Christ. I wanted my life to matter.  I wanted it to count.  I wanted to show God how much I loved Him through my obedience to Him and my service to others, particularly my service to my husband. As you can imagine with time the reality of life shone and the living out my desire to Him became harder and harder. From time to time I think back to those early years of a young girl with dashing hopes and dreams of doing ministry work beside her beloved beau, struggling, striving, working in distance countries, making a difference. That was my desire. It didn't happen like that though. Instead, we stayed home, had some babies and I began teaching the babies at home. Day in and day out we had our same little routine.  Very simple.  Nothing complex at all.  I loved it and my life, nothing extravagant.  "Mother."  So that's it I thought.  This is my lot...

How many of you have someone in your life that you find difficult to love?  Could you be that difficult person to someone else? This thought plagued me this morning as the Lord and I sat "just talking".  I'd told the Lord a few weeks ago that I didn't care for a particular person's personality and that I was glad I no longer had to deal with them and all of their drama. "Out of sight, out of mind." So I went ... on my merry little way. God reminded me of something this morning though. "I am still required to love the difficult!" The more I pondered on my difficult relationships the more I saw where I learned something about me.  Could it be that those "difficult" people served a purpose in my life after all?  And that all the fuss and fight wasn't null and void? The more I began to focus on the various relationships that I've had and have in my life that have caused me anguish, the more I see how the purging has...

Amy Grant, Over The Top entertainment 2011 Women of Faith Conference. We pour out our miseries God just hears a melody Beautiful, the mess we are The honest cries of breaking hearts Are better than a Hallelujah ~ Amy Grant, Better than a Hallelujah                                                                            {scroll down to quiet the music} Amy Grant, Women of Faith page Amy Grant Website & blog xo, Angela blog subscription  | twitter | facebook

It is official, I am now over the top with excitement and anticipation and can't wait for Friday to get here! Mandisa's music has awaken my spirit.  She's brought some life to these bones! Mandisa, I love you! Talk about talent. I'm not going to lie to y'all, I was a bit iffy initially.  First off, I'd never heard of her and you know how people can be when it comes to "new."  Some of us {ahem} don't always embrace it at first! Actually, when I saw her name as the entertainment I said, "Who?"  And then I thought, "Oh boy!" Let me just say, "She hushed me." Her talent spoke loud and clear for her yesterday! The girl can sing and she can move.  Yesterday— all day, she lit up my house with her soulful, contemporary style.  Her blend is just right for me, and that band of hers: talented. I'm going to have lots of fun at the Women of Faith, Over the Top Conference, in Dallas. The more I learn about each pa...

If you've come to Angela talks today looking for my favorite blogs, you will not find it. But you will find some phenomenal Christians who are fast becoming some of my favorite people.  This week and some of next week, I'm featuring women and one guy who I will be preparing to hear this time next week at the Women of Faith over the top Conference.  I am forever indebted to Thomas Nelson Publishing company for finding me worthy to send. I wish I had an "I love Thomas Nelson Publishing " shirt to wear next week to show my gratitude.  I don't so all I can say is, "Thank you." Next week my plans are to show videos and pics of people at the conference, hopefully, just maybe I will even have an opportunity to sneak in an interview or snag one of the speakers and get them to share a few words. If not then you will all be bless to hear from 'Lil ol' me.' Okay . . . While browsing through Brenda's book, I became stricken with her w...

Today's post is about another woman I will be privilege to hear come August 26-27 at the Woman of Faith Conference in Dallas. To give you new readers a bit of background on what I've been doing this week, I'm highlighting the folks that you've been seeing here, to share with those of you who stop by and are interested in what's going on with me, the people God has opened the door for me to hear speak at the conference. Much thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing Company for finding me to be a fit for the assignment. Anyway ... Sandi Patty is a name that I've heard spoken quite a few times in my Christian circle.  I even think I've heard her on a few of the Christian radio programs I listen to.  And I'm most certain that I've heard her music played on KHCB, one of my all time favorite local Christian radio stations here in Houston. Still, though, I didn't really know much about her so I did a little digging.  Thankfully I didn't have to...

Are you vulnerable, transparent or do you have a wall of protection around you? Today, we will look at another Women of Faith Conference speaker, author and child actress Lisa Welchel. Lisa has authored numerous books,  Her latest being, "Friendships for Grown-Ups: What I missed and learned along the way." Here are a few practical steps, Lisa gives, in developing and growing friendships: Drive to see an old friend or reconnect with a childhood buddy. Dare to share a doubt or question about life you have with an old friend. The next time someone calls to connect with you, unless it is simply not possible, try to make time for this. Make a list of your three really close friends and twelve close friends.  Don't attempt to have twelve really close friends.  It really isn't possible, and it will only frustrate you and them. Keep in touch with old friends.  Facebook is a great way to do this. Pay attention when you start thinking of ...

"Strength and need for connection" with another is something that we all need in some form to a certain dgree.  In the video below Women of Faith speaker Marilyn Meberg  speaks briefly about an incident that happened when she was in Rome. It began with the barking of a dog, just to give you a hint. When I think of strength and connections as they pertain to relationships, my mind's eye always leads me to the story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth.  I'll get to that story in a bit. If you're a parent, I want you to think back to the time when you've had to leave your young child in the care of someone else.  If you're like me the only place you may be able to conjure is leaving them in the church nursery when they're around two. Do you remember your child's reaction when they sensed your departure becoming eminent, and realized they would be left behind?  Mayhem, right? The child, being only knee high usually will cling to the leg ...

What has God placed in you? You know, that gift that He's gifted each of His children with in order to do Kingdom work here on earth? Are you using that gift?  Or do you feel as if you've been over-looked? Maybe you don't exactly know what your gift is yet. Worse, maybe you feel "unlikely" to have been given one. Are you one who sees yourself as "unlikely?" Hm? "God chooses to use the most 'unlikely,'" says author and speaker Patsy Clairmont. Throughout Scripture we can find that statement to ring true.  Seems that all God used were the unlikelies.  For crying out loud, look at Jesus.  It was said that nothing good can come out of his home town when people found out where He was from.  I would call Him a pretty unlikely in the eyes of the locals. Maybe you've been told you're an unlikely.  Unlikely to do this and unlikely to accomplish that.  I sure have. Though it wasn't always with words.   Sometimes it...

God loves us more than we know.  He gives us more than we can ask or dream.  He's unrestrained . . . excessive . . . outrageous . . . OVER THE TOP. ~ {Dallas 2011 Women of Faith  motto} Friends join me this week and next as I showcase the lovely speakers who are lined up to speak at this year's Women of Faith Conference in Dallas. We will also take a look down memory lane and talk about some of the previous speakers ... see what they are doing now. Some of these speakers, I'm not familiar with so we will learn about them,  their life and their ministries together. I always look forward to meeting new and exciting people.  People with stories . . . life stories.  Can't wait to share the life stories and ministry stories of these souls with you all! So stay tune! Angela talks schedule to showcase the speakers are as follows: Monday, August 15, 2011 Patsy Clairmont Tuesday August 16, 2011 Marilyn Mebug Wednesday August 17, 2011 Lisa Whelchel Thu...

I feel really silly and embarrassed to share part of what I'm about to share with you all today. I share much about myself on this blog: the good, the bad and the very ugly. In writing and sharing, I find help.  I find help in ways that better me.  I find it in ways where I learn more about me, and in finding these things, I am able to make some conclusions about myself which helps me work on me. Yes.  I am a work in progress. Knowing how I am "wretched" and knowing that God loves "even me anyway" causes me to love Him back. Knowing that God loves me anyway makes me wanna give myself to Him more, to keep getting up even though I fall. Knowing God loves me makes me want to live my whole life for Him. Yes.  Today I can say that Nancy Leigh DeMoss' ministry blog "Revive our hearts" is one of my favorite, but I couldn't always say that. Once upon a time I was upset with Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Back to the Bible , but neither knew...

My assignment for Women of Faith is taking me to DALLAS!!   Hip-hip, hooray! I hope to see you all there! If you live in Dallas or if you will be there send me a note so that we can meet.  I would love meeting you all, my friends—the ones that I bare my heart and soul to daily and accept me JUST AS I AM! Thanks kindest friends :-)

Yesterday I read an alarming story.  The title was written in a way to be elusive.    Mother's tell!  Mother's tell their "deepest, darkest, secrets???" The secrets ... well they are probably not what you would think them to be. Nor will you be surprised, if you are a mother, by them.  These are not the revealing of secret fantasies.   In these tales mothers do not tell of their fantasies of  staring into space, dwelling on make believe stories of how their lives could have been better if they would have married Tom, Dick or Harry. No these stories are alarming, a cry for help.  Proof that everyone needs someone to lean on, to carry them when they become the weak and weary.  Sadly they were nothing knew to me. I am a mother of seven.  I home school my kids.  I've been known {as you all can testify to} to become frustrated.  Overwhelmed by it all. And I've learned that it's okay.   No longer do I try to hid...