Gateways to Joy

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

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is " Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear." ~ 1 Peter 3:16 Lord:  human master, ruler.  One who has due power ownership, control, or authority over others.  A term of respect for ones father, rulers and government officials, teachers, et al. Yep.  That's what he needs ladies: reverence.  A man needs his ego fed.  That's just how the Lord designed him. I try and I fall and I try and I fall. And I will keep trying (and falling). So what does it say, ladies, to our man when we treat him as lord?  We say to them that we: trust him we think he's capable he has favor with us we respect him and yes, we love him To put it in today's terminology we're basically telling him that we think "He's all that!" Now...how do we follow in Sarah's footsteps? WE SUBMIT Ouch!  I know for some...

Hey girls, groups are now forming as of,September 15th for the On-line Bible study of 1 John, which will official began Monday morning,September 19, 2011. If you need the schedule for the reading you may get it by clicking on the highlighted link, Good Morning Girls 1 John reading schedule, and go ahead and take a look at this e-book that I hope will answer any questions you may have. Also click on the highlighted portion of this link to see and print out your scheduled daily readings for the entire 12 weeks! Many of you are women very familiar with God's Word and reading it, but I know that sometimes it's good to change things around sometimes, so I thought I would share Courtney's method of how she studies. Remember, Good Morning Girls uses the SOAP method—which is what Courtney will share on this video. So take about 7 minutes out of your schedules to watch the her video please. Also, almost all of you seem to either be having trouble with leaving a comment or ...

Ladies, ladies, ladies, I am fired up over here! I've just had great quiet time , I'm cleaning my house, schooling my kids and have spend some time with some of my online friends this morning.  Yes, ma'am, I've been a little busy bee over here. This morning I shared the live stream with you all from Priscilla Shirer over at Going Beyond.  I joined the book club over there The Resolution Revolution for women and let me just tell you it is exciting.  We had a blast fellowshipping with Priscilla, the girls and even Jerry :-) What I am really finding exciting about this particular book club is that we have pen pals.  We've tried to link up with other women in our city, but if that isn't possible it's okay, we just link up with another sister. In light of me doing the book club and the Bible study with Good Morning Girls, I wanted to share another way with you for studying the Bible.  This is closely related to the SOAP method that Good Morning Girls u...

Hey Girls! Today is the day that we introduce ourselves.  I would love to hear your testimony, if you're married tell us how long you've been married, if you have children or not, and anything else that you're comfortable with. Let's take today and tomorrow connecting with one another, and then on Monday... we will begin. If you have any prayer request please share them with us on the blog or send me an email. On Monday, wake early, read your Bible and then contact us or me to let us know you had your quiet time.  Please share with us something you learned and are praying about.  Let's be open and encouraging with one another. See you back here on Monday ladies! xo, Angela

Today's post is a piggyback so to speak off of   Women Living Well.  While reading my "daily blogs" I saw where Courtney had written the above post. The post moved me still. I looove Courtney and the blogging ministry that God has given her.  Her posts are very thought-out and informative. I get many emails from women who experience abuse from the hands of the man that God has given to protect and love them. What I find sad are the "good abusers " of course no abuse is ever good, but there are some men, Christian men, who feel that if they are not physically hitting their wives or bashing them with words of profanity than they are not abusers. There are several types of abuse, men.  Did you know that the good old " silent treatment " is a form of abuse? Sometimes an awful lot is said by "you not saying."   Mr. Nice Guy usually seems to be the one who dishes out this type of emotional abuse and often times the wife has become ac...

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. ~ Ephesians 5:25 Marriage a "holy union." A precious relationship that needs tender, self-sacrificing care.  SELF-SACRIFICING CARE , men that's what a lot of us, WOMEN, want to see more of.  PROVIDING & WORKING is only part of it ...it's a good part, but not the only part. We want you to show ... compassion understanding honesty integrity loyalty empathy kindness gentleness patience friendliness attentiveness Love:  compassion, devotion.  In the NT, usually the Gr word agape', which focuses on benevolent (marked or disposed to doing good) actions toward another person, rather than on feelings for the person.  Often described as an unconditional, sacrificial love which does what is in the best interest of another, without expecting anything in return....

Please take time today to listen to this podcast by Dr. Charles Stanley .  I really enjoyed this message today and I just know you will be blessed by it too, so PLEASE find a bit of time to listen to this audio and allow God to bless you, teach you some new truths and remind you of a few old ones. You will do have to scroll down to the bottom of the blog to mute the music. Dr. Charles Stanley Desires of the heart part 2 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.~ Psalm 37:4 How do we do this?  How do we delight ourselves in Him and commit our way to Him? When we delight in someone that means that we experience extreme pleasure and joy from being around them—remember when you were dating your spouse?  The pleasure and the delight that we seek to have with God can only come from us spending time with Him—becoming intimate.  This is how we get to know and experience God better. When we commit to ...

F acing  times of troubles? In my morning devotions I read a conversation between God and Jeremiah where God explained to Him why he was having troublesome days. I'm so sure God's  respond is the same to YOU and ME many times. When we're going through problems troublesome moments can be very useful.  A good way to look at our troubles is to think of them as "Our training."  They're our "training days." I'm convinced that it is in the days of difficulties that we are able to see what kind of character we've developed.  To check your character begin to discern your own actions—learn what they mean.   You can check for things such as: What is your thinking like when you are facing certain troubles? How do you feel within? Are you angry?  Why?  Why not? Are you blaming someone else?  Or have you taken on too much of the blame? How is your relationship with God, now? How is your relationship with...

I'm so messed up.  I'm such a sinner. Seems like no matter how much I try I fall to sin's calling and temptations.  I fall down, cry...get back up, only to fall again. I've come to the realization that as much as it hurts to admit:  I don't like suffering.  Rather, I should say I want to choose what I will suffer for and deny myself of what I choose to deny myself of. Often times, I will do almost anything to avoid pain.  I pick and choose, though, I call it by another name.  God calls us to be willing and prepared to do His will. Whatever His will is, even if it means that I must hurt, suffer, or  become BROKEN . Once we are obedient to God and do what He has called us to, sin then looses its grip on us. Have you noticed how when we are in bodily pain, or our health or the health of our love one is in jeopardy our values become clear and, sinful pleasures, whatever they might be, become bleak and less important?...

S ometimes we, Christians, have a tendency to panic within, even though we know God and believe what His Word says. We panic even though we've experienced Him and His faithfulness.   We panic, at times, when we can't readily see or predict an outcome in certain situations . This week I was revving up to set into panic mode.  You see we had to drop our health insurance (again) because it was simply too expensive. Last week, my older son (17) and I had stomach viruses (we never get sick).  I needed medication that needed refilling, but I had to get a doctors authorization and didn't have the $300, just for the office visit (that didn't include test).  My oldest son fainted...but we have no health insurance.  Our family is among the people who are "uninsured." Have you ever tried going to the doctor or the ER, for that matter with no health coverage?!  It's ludicrous and a very unpleasant and humiliating experience. ...

N othing but the truth is acceptable to God. We sing to Him We speak of Him We serve Him BUT.  Hypocrisy closes the door on FATHER accepting acts of service from CHILD. ... lying ... pretense Father, forgive me, your fragile sinful child. He sees ... He sees through us. He refuses to listen ... MY BELOVED CHILD, he calls to me, " To be close to Me, you must be HONEST with Me. O LORD , do not Your eyes look for truth? You have smitten them, But they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent. ~ Jeremiah 5:3