Gateways to Joy

I feel really silly and embarrassed to share part of what I'm about to share with you all today. I share much about myself on this blog: the good, the bad and the very ugly. In writing and sharing, I find help.  I find help in ways that better me.  I find it in ways where I learn more about me, and in finding these things, I am able to make some conclusions about myself which helps me work on me. Yes.  I am a work in progress. Knowing how I am "wretched" and knowing that God loves "even me anyway" causes me to love Him back. Knowing that God loves me anyway makes me wanna give myself to Him more, to keep getting up even though I fall. Knowing God loves me makes me want to live my whole life for Him. Yes.  Today I can say that Nancy Leigh DeMoss' ministry blog "Revive our hearts" is one of my favorite, but I couldn't always say that. Once upon a time I was upset with Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Back to the Bible , but neither knew...

Today is Favorite Blog Friday! I feel like the woman we're looking at today is family.   She's the niece of my Pastor.  She's also one of the grandchildren of the lady that I spoke about in my blog post "The Sacrifice of A Mother." Her family— uncle, Grandmother and her parents—through their ministries, have been very instrumental in shaping me spiritually. I've cried on the arm of her Grandmother many times telling her of my woes. . . my failure as a mom when my children were younger.   As-a matter-of-fact, I did with her grandmother the same thing I did with Elisabeth Elliot.  I sat at her feet. I found in Mother Cannings, sound advice—full of insight and wisdom.  A caring heart, someone who took time with me—never rushing me.  She took time to hear me.  She listened.  And she shared her stories with me even sharing a few of her own regrets. Now, I'm an admirer of Priscilla's from a far.   It still hard for me ...

We're looking at one of my hometown girls blog today!  Houston's own Beth Moore.   Now y'all must understand something here.  I am not looking at Beth's blog because of popularity or size.  Remember, the blogs featured here are my favorite because of the content of the person's character. Side note for a minute ... the other thing that I just absolutely love is the "Family Affair" of LPM.  It always makes me want to cry, especially when I think back to the girls pre-adult years and think back to when Beth was teaching Sunday school and aerobics.  I betcha she and Keith are just beside themselves with having such beautiful daughters... daughters who have the content in character that God calls us to have as women, character such as that of their mother. It's a beautiful sight seeing parents and children working side by side, and when it's done for the Lord, well... it's priceless. I know for my husband and me we have desired quietly for some...

I decided to blog about these two women today after a conversation I had with a good friend yesterday.  My friend told me that her cousins wife died at the age of 31, and that she left two boys behind. "They are some bad boys."  She said. "How old are they?" "Seven and eight." She replied. "Oh they just need someone to love and care for them."  Then I preceded to share the story of two remarkable women that I'd met through blogging.  No, I've never met them personally, but I've been moved by their stories.  I know their heart.  I know their spirit.  Their hearts and spirits are His heart and Spirit. The first blog is Jen's: Rich Faith Rising...because life is a poem and love is eternal.  This blog is one of my newbies.  I recently learned about Jen and her blog when Jen commented on this blog. What first captured my attention about Jen to be quite frank was the little black girl who is in the picture with her. ...

Blogs!  That's what this post is all about today. Some of my favorite blogs! I've been working on mine ALL MORNING!  Don't know if it's the designer in me or what ..., but I am determined to learn how to DESIGN BLOGS —in particular design my own. Nothing, thus far that I see has been able to capture my personality.  I've seen a lot of very nice blogs...each having something that captures my taste, but not all. Anyway, I shall keep on, keeping on.  So please bear with me and the never ending designs of this blog.  I will get it right.  One day, hopefully one day real soon, we will all look at my blog and say, "She's got it!  I remember when she was learning :) I'm not going to get into much detail today about why I like these blogs.  I'm just mainly going to share the links with you so that you can visit them. 1.   Jeanne Damoff {jeannedamoff.wordpress.com} .  I really like this blog!  I was drawn to it from the very begi...

Hey ladies!  I'm doing something different over here today.  I decided to do something fun.  It's not original I must admit. I got the idea from Courtney over at one of my new found favorite blogs.  I love Courtney's personality and love her blog.  Not only do I love her blog, but I also love what she's doing over at Good Morning Girls. I'm going to let my Saturday's post be about one of my devotions from the Good Morning Girls summer reading plan. I must tell you that I am shockingly surprise at the effect that certain women and their blogs are having on me.  I never, until about two year ago, thought of blogging as a ministry.  I knew blogging was a platform that companies used to attract customers, and artistic folks used to display their talents, but never had I considered blogging when it came to spreading the Good News.  God isn't behind is He?  He's using social media to get His Word out. Y'all, the women who operate the blogs m...