Gateways to Joy

This is where my heart is today... pondering on grace. I've been engrossed in reading a families tale—the story that I'm reading starts in Genesis 27 and ends in  Genesis 33:20. My favorite parts: "But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." Genesis 33:1 And when Jacob says to Esau, "... for I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God..." ~ Genesis 33:10 Grace is the benevolent one isn't she, always giving to those of us who are undeserving. Can you think of some undeserving person in need of your grace today? Perhaps today is the day for you to consider ... maybe even act on it. "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." ~ Romans 1:16 Special note to we parents:  Lets try not to show favoritism.  There may be a child who you relate to more, one who reminds us of ourselves, or one whose temperamen...

G od's will for your life ... Are you ever concerned with being sure you are fulfilling it? I think on this often, " What does He will for me today?"   Not in the complete sense necessarily, but I wonder,  "How will what I do today—my choice, effect the whole picture. I've been reading Philippians and in it I read these words by Paul,  "...but I press on so that I may lay hold of that which also I was laid hold for by Christ Jesus."   Then he goes on to say,  "Breathern, I do not regard myself as having hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Many of us have problems with  "laying hold of that which also we were laid hold for."   Why?  We have a problem with moving forward.  Some of us get stuck, and even more of us get stuck in the past. Being stuck makes it hard for us ...

I ask you to please take just a few minutes to listen and watch the YouTube video below!  It is so contagious and such a blessing.  I promise you won't regret taking a few  minutes out of your schedule to watch.  I wanted to share this with you this weekend, but decided that the Gratitude Community would be the best place to share it.  After all if anyone knows about   SMILES it is those of us who search for and count gifts.  Joy, gratitude... even anger are all an outward expression of something deeper taking place within. Right? Here's my story: The other day on my way home I heard this song by Kirk Franklin, and have not been able to stop smiling, singing, and humming the words.  I experience pure joy every time this song is played.  My being becomes extremely soothed and my heart is at ease.   I've danced a step or two while s...

"W here hides this joy of the Lord?"  That's the question that's been plaguing my mind lately. God loves me this I know.  But I don't feel it.  I see it, yet I don't see it.  I see things in my life working, yes, but how is it working for my good???  I wonder.  These feelings are the feelings that in times past caused me to travel inward.  Isolate...turn back in search of fullness .  I'm hungry and need God's fueling... I bow the knees time and time again.  I skim through the Scriptures looking for morsels.  I find nuggets, but the soul doesn't seemed touched as it normally is. I utter these words...these feelings quietly to Him in prayer.  I fight.  I fight the feeling, but eventually it overtakes me and I give in totally to the lie.  Clenching it closely even .  "God is withholding good from me . "   I'm totally embarrassed by these thoughts for I know they are not true, yet they seem to hav...

I 'am tired.  My back hurts, neck aches, and I want to get back in bed, but I can't.  There's too much that needs to be tackled in the house today. I've been staying up late into the early mornings.  Not for writing, though, sometimes I try and use my time wisely and concentrate on that task.  No, I'm up late now, mostly waiting for my husband.  Remember he and a friend just opened the restaurant...eatery?   Being up late like this with house quiet and no one to talk to causes a mind to travel-think.  And I began to travel, think about what I am doing with myself...my life's work. Cleaning, cooking, refereeing, chauffeuring, encouraging, respecting, loving... all my responsibilities to my family.  This is my high calling service to God. It is my first responsibility—even before writing.   It is: heaven's work.  And I'm proud to be one called to this service.  Being a stay-at-home moth...

M y heart swells with expression of joy and gratitude when I think about the gifts that He has given, and the gifts that He continues to give. The ability, alone, to share in the gift expression with others is enough to overflow the heart with gratitude.   I feel like shouting: thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!   My heart is full!   "The Lord is gracious and compassionate...good to all...faithful to all His promises...loving toward all He has made...righteous in all His ways...near to all who calls on Him...watches over all who love Him...my mouth will speak in praise of the Lord, said the Psalmist. My gratitude list #'s 100-104 ~ The simple joys of home life ~ The beauty that each day brings.  The lessons taught.  Lessons learned by His hand. ~ The refreshment that sleeps gives ~New mercies every morning. These gifts are from the hand of Him who redeems your life, who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion, who satisfi...

H ere are a few things you can do if you are interested in waking up to your blessings...awaken from your daily slumber.  Starting your One thousand gift lists.  Awakening...really waking up to your senses helps you experience beauty...His beauty all around you. Interested in getting started counting gifts? 1.  Ask God to open your eyes and make your heart sensitive to your surroundings, your world so that you begin to see your gifts—your life, through a new perspective. 2.  Thank Him for what He shows you and write it down. Gift Lists # 86-99 Letting God lead my blog and do what He wants with it.  Follow His lead. Rubbing & massaging husbands aching back The writing down of poems audio Bible preparing to juice fruit for family in the mornings.  Peeling oranges. sun shining...glare so bright listening to birds listening to chattering children quaint coffee shops cooking, listening to Bible reading while kids play outside ...

T hat's what Ann always says.  I don't know about you but sometimes I have questions—all kinds.  I don't necessarily pray about them, I just wonder.  I've always been that way: someone who sits back and "wonders why?"   Most of the things I've never shared.  That's why it was kind of eerie when I started reading Ann's book.   She addresses so many of my "unspoken" wonders—they seem to be hers and probably even some are yours.  She's bold in her writing and gets bare. Today is Monday, which means I am participating in the Gratitude Community started by said author pictured above.  My gratitude list consists of things that I find through the day and list in my journal... things that I'm thankful for .  Are you going to participate?  Have you gotten your journal and started penning your gratitude, your gifts with us?  You should.  It is transforming.  Grace awakening. H...

A s I get older I'm learning that life and close, intimate, relationships can be extremely difficult.  I use the word intimate as these are the relationships where eventually the mask has to come down—giving those closes to you the opportunity to see and learn who you really are.  Regardless of how giving you are in any relationship things can still go awry, causing everyone involved to view the fall of the relationship or disagreement from their perception, thus starts the pointing of fingers. This has been my lot as recently as last month.  Not wanting my pain to be in vain I've gone on a search, looking and longing to learn.  One of my biggest conclusions is simple, even in examining my behavior: "Put no confidence in the flesh."  There is no perfect life; there is no perfect person, and there is no perfect relationship.  Period.  We are all flawed, born in sin shaped in iniquity. Coming to this truth may seem like a "no brainer," but it was...