Gateways to Joy

Isn't it horrible that we are on day 22 of this month, and I am only on day 3 of our prayers.  Yikes! I almost gave up, but I'm not going to.  This is important to me and it is important for me to do for my husband. I want to share something that I read this morning with you. Truth Demands A Response: "One foggy night, the captain of a large ship saw what appeared to be another ship's lights approaching in the distance.  This other ship was on a course that would mean a head-on collision. Quickly, the captain signaled to the approaching ship: 'Please change you course 10 degrees west.' The reply came blinking back through the thick fog: 'You change your course 10 degrees east.' Indignantly, the captain pulled rank and shot a message back to the other ship: 'I am a sea captain with 35 years of experience.  Change your course 10 degrees west!' Without hesitation, the signal flashed back: 'I am a seaman, fourth class.  You cha...

Living. Within the realm of living each of us will experience trouble times. Trouble times are a part of life, even for the Christian. The Bible assures us that trouble times are permitted for certain purposes in the Christian life. It is in these sorts of times that God allows us to be transfigured and refined. As we see with Job, sometimes well-meaning friends and loved ones who aim to comfort during trouble times can actually make our situation worse with their advice. “Lean on the Lord.” “Hold on to God's unchanging hand." This was some of the advice given to me. The problem with this advice is that I didn't know how to do what I was being told to do, nor did I understand what was really meant, thus failure always ensued. That was until I changed my perspective on how I viewed God. “Nothing here below is profane for those who know how to see.” ~ Pierre Teihard de Chardin   Come with me on my journey. You don't have to leave your house; you just need ...

His Word says, "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." ~ Matthew 11:29 To practice humility in our lives WE must wake up daily with an attitude ready to serve others.  Not just the doing of the service, but having the right attitude before, while and after doing.  In order to really have the humility that Jesus calls us to have we must forgo the rights of ourselves and the expectation of exaltation. Is this the attitude that I display in my life daily? often times I don't.  I want to.  Long to, and even strive to.   This is one of my daily soul journeys ... .  I don't pray for it either, sadly.  Too afraid God will put me in situations where I'm constantly having to practice it—though I have to practice it. This post is linked to Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience.  The subject of our Walk with Him Wednesday talks is "The practice of humility." This post...

Hi ladies! I thought it would be fun for us to participate over at Courtney's place and join her in the summer reading plan for moms. What exactly is Courtney's summber reading plans for mothers you ask? Her plan follows the S.O.A.P method.  What is the S.O.A.P method?  So glad you asked. The S.O.A.P. Method stands for: 1. S- Write out the scripture passage for the day. (I have a shiny new notebook where I will be writing out the verse/s of the day.) 2. O - Write down 1 or 2 observations from the passage. (After I write out the verse, I will write what I learned from the verse.) 3. A - Write down 1-2 applications from the passage. (Then I will write out how this verse applies to me if it is applicable.) 4. P- Pray over what you learned from today’s passage. (Then I will pray this verse over myself and my family.) As you go through this study, if you come across a verse or passage that you don’t understand, I recommend Crosswalk’s Bible Study Tools found here: h...