Gateways to Joy

Have you ever felt like you needed to get somewhere and be left alone? Not necessarily leave your house, but just be left alone. Not even left alone meaning total solitude, I mean left alone where maybe the T.V.'s are kept off and the radio isn't glaring and the kids are stilled—playing or doing something quietly.  Husband too. This is the sort of quietness that my soul longs for today. My depths need to be searched, scanned so that decisions can be made wisely and insightfully. He has told the heart on many occasions and reiterated it again this morning: set some boundaries. Boundaries are our life savers.  They are what stops the ocean waves from rushing in carrying us away. God has drawn lines in the sand.  He's set boundaries 'cause He knows their importance. Look at the expanse ... the horizon. Throughout our lives there are things that separate, bound us by various means for various reasons. Take our homes for instance, in our homes are roo...

{Please scroll down to the bottom of the blog to pause the music} Yesterday I listened to Nick Vujici  and Ann Voskamp's interviews on CBN Interactive. Both interviews hold valuable nuggets. I highly encourage you to listen. Today I'm sharing the words of Ann Voskamp with you, not only via the video, but through the summation of this post.  I decided to use her words, and her voice because if you've read this blog for any length of time, you know that her words and voice is one that God uses to speak to me.  Angela talks participates weekly in the interaction of community with Ann, blogging about gratitude and spiritual disciplines, not to mention that A Holy Experience is a daily staple of bread for me. In this interview, via Skype, Ann shares three points in Finding God in tragedy.  Tragedy comes in various forms, shapes, and sizes.  When it comes we usually don't care the form, shape or size— we only care about finding relief.  We want reli...