Gateways to Joy

{Jesus} who being the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men, being found in appearance as a man.  He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ~ Philippians 2:6-8 Friends.  What is Jesus to you? The Bible tells us that Jesus is: King of the Jews He's the King of Israel He's the King of righteousness He's the King of the ages He's the King of heaven He's the King of glory He's the King of kings He's the Lord of lords What is Jesus to you? Gratitude for: ~ knowing the true & living King and being able to call Him: Savior and friend ~ my responsibilities as a wife & mother ~ sitting on the bed having long talks with my husband ~ watching movies with my husband ~ eating Ambrosia salad late at night with my husband ~ long rides with my husband ~ the rides to go g...

It's here again.  Time for us to begin school. Many of you have already started, but we don't start until the day after Labor Day. The kids are excited.  My mother is here helping out, and she, like the children are excited.  Right now, as I type this, she is in the kitchen.  She's cooking grits and has already set the butter and eggs aside for the two cakes she's making today. As far as school goes, I'm excited too.  Hopeful.   Hopeful that God will give me all that I need to do that which He has called me to do... you know I'm a broken one, with so many pieces to be placed just so... This season of my life God has saw fit to add some anews to my schedule.  I can't wait to share some of what I'm doing with you all.  I will make the announcement in the coming months. For now, just know that I am going to be one busy woman.  I'll be burning the candle at both ends. If you haven't signed up for the Bible study on 1 John, please go a...

Every second counts.  How are you spending your time? I've been thinking often about this, in particularly how I'm affecting my children with what I do and don't do with my time. Then I came upon this: "Are my children satisfied first everyday?  Before phone calls, household chores, email inboxes, message boards, errands, volunteer activities, church functions, hobbies ... are my children deeply and fully satisfied?" ~ Ann Voskamp I feel like I'm slipping ... falling.  I'm striving working at trying to balance it {all that I have to do} better. Then I remember my calling and what's important.  There's really no need to try and balance it all 'cause there is just one thing that's most important.  All else is secondary He whispers to my heart. Blogging is good, but blogging—and all that it entails ought not have first priority. Lose myself in His will and calling first and He will give me the desires of my heart.  This is som...

'W hat happens when women say yes to God?"  That's the title of one of my favorite books written by Lysa Terkerust. Today, I'm expanding that question to not only include women, but I am asking it to Christians:  "What happens when we say yes to God?" I have a very limited perspective of what I believe is possible when I say yes to God.  That is very hard to admit because I know the endless possibilities with God.  However, my actions show that though I say I believe in endless possibilities, I don't believe enough.  I don't believe to the point of accepting and doing all of what He shows me. Instead I straddle the fence and tell Him to, "Wait."   My actions stand more in agreement with what I don't believe than what I believe .  My mind and heart easily take over in thoughts and daydream when I think about all of the possibilities with God.  There is limitless possibilities in an array of areas for the child of God who accep...

Today—Saturday was busy for me.  My husband and I got up and took our oldest daughter {16} to the bank to cash her first ever "pay check."  This was very exciting for me.  You mothers can relate to that I'm sure.  The first anything—a good anything anyway, with our children is a celebration!   So I made a big deal out of that.  After we left the bank we came home for her to get ready for work. When I got back home I had to turn right around and leave again.  My three son's had haircut appointments.  So I rushed and got them over there, late. Once we got back home I was elated to know that I didn't have anything to do for a few hours—finally we could get some cleaning done!  And that's what we did, the kids and we started to clean. I told my oldest son to get the lawn mower and start on the grass.  The girls had to get their room clean.  And the other two boys were in their room cleaning....

H ow did I get here?  Here is so different from where I thought I would be as a mother.  I mistakenly thought that "with time parenting got easier."   In many ways things are much easier for me now as a mother, now that my children have gotten older.  But when I ask, "How did I get here?" I mean in a place where it doesn't seem like much of what I'm teaching is being grasped by my younger children anymore. It seems as if they are going backwards right before my very eyes, and this causes me a lot of mental anguish—seeing the default of their character. Even though I've taught them at home all of their lives, even after teaching them line upon line—precept upon precept God's Word, right from wrong.  Even after instilling values in them.  I see attitude.  Ungrateful hearts.  Sin abounding.  There's just no way of eluding that sin nature. Little ones bicker, and I hea...

O n my back!  That's the description of my posture this weekend.  Back pain had me down flat— pain and the drowsiness caused by the muscle relaxers I was popping.  In between pain and sleep, I found myself being supported by huge pillows in attempts to sit up and help my dearly beloved complete a 15 + hour test.  A test that really should have been taken weeks, if not at minimum, a month ago.  This is just the sort of thing in times past that would send my tongue on a lashing spree.  Not this thime.  This time I was his note taker—the bopping head one.  He would read, and I would write what was read.  I would doze.  And then I would write.   Sometimes I put tablet and pen down to sleep.  This worried the Husband. His composure told. I'm learning how to be the blessing.  The giver, especially to him. ...

H er writing grips me still.  Makes me pause long in thought.  Lights the wicker of my soul.  The Farmer's wife. His servant girl...her life.  Her words.  Her book: all grace.  Simple grace. I read her book and discover lessons from Him.  This book is not for skimmers.  I read these words in her book:  "Eucharisteo makes the knee the vantage point of a life and I bend the body, it says it quiet: 'Thy will be done.'  This is the way a body and a mouth say thank you:  Thy will be done.  This is the way self dies, falls into the arms of Love." I put the book down again.  I decipher words.  I am, again, stilled.  Moved stiff.  I, too, bend the knees.  Clasp the hands and bow the head.  I mutter my utterances to Him who sees the heart. He has heard me speak these words before.  Long ago.  Somewhere...somehow...the roots of living and life chocked away the desire to give Him my will tot...

G ive Him thanks! Giving thanks for all things is making a tremendous difference in my life. I wrote this article sometime ago, way before I learned about Ann Voskamp's blog: A Holy Experience and her Gratitude Community.  Maybe, now, some of you understand why I'm so drawn to her.  She speaks my heart—my language, and she has a lot of kids just like me! I thank God for giving me the opportunity to blog and to share with you my heart-felt and most convicting thoughts.  One thing that has really drawn me to participate in this Gratitude Community  is that as I go about visiting your blogs I see a lot of me in you.  We are like minded you and me.  I'm beginning to think of you all as friends—my "kinfolk."  Realizing this makes me feel comfortable, and relax in your midst, ready to share. Today, I share a piece of my heart with you, and I thank you in advance for allowing me to be so...

C elebrating  Him and His endless gifts of giving .  Learning thankfulness for the endless blessings Christ gives us. Take a look around ...  go ahead.  Somewhere you will find His endless gifts to you .  No matter how bleak things may look today—take a look around.  I bet you'll find something.  Actually, I know you will.  He's the gift giver. The best way for us to see our endless gifts is to celebrate in what we have: What He's given us. Thank Him in heart for the obvious .  Sit back and ponder on the even smaller blessings ...things, t he things you and I have the ability to take for granted ... overlook.  The Bible tells us,  " There is an appointed time for everything/  And there is a time for every event under the heaven— God has made everything appropriate in its time.  He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginnin...

Today is Monday, which means I participate in the Gratitude Community over at A Holy Experience .  It's where a few bloggers and I gather together to share our "thankfulness" to Him...preferably for what others call "the small things."  The light of a new day breaks through.  It wakes me.  I turn to my husband, "Good morning.  Will you rub my back please." He rubs.  His rubs are soothing.  His hands are big; they're warm.  They comfort. It's cold.  I adore cold, sunny mornings... God's mornings.  His beauty shining brightly on me.  His "Good morning daughter" to me. I pray, "Thank you that I can be thankful.  Thank you Lord for allowing me to see a new day.  Thank you that we are all seeing another day together.  Thank you Lord for Ann and continue to watch over them and protect them.  Bless them." I'm at peace again.  They boys will start back with basketball in the new year, first Monday of the...