Gateways to Joy

`A ll fear is but the notion that God's love ends.  Did you think I end, that My bread warehouses are limited, that I will not be enough?  But I am infinite, child.  What can end in Me?  Can life end in Me?  Can happiness?  Or peace?  Or anything you need?  Doesn't your Father always give you what you need?  I am the Bread of Life and My bread for you will never end.   Fear thinks God is finite and fear believes that there is not going to be enough and hasn't counting one thousand gifts, endlessly counting gifts, exposed the lie at the heart of all fear?  In Me, blessings never end because My love for you never ends.  If My goodnesses toward you end, I will cease to exist, child.  As long as there is a God in heaven there is grace on earth and I am the spilling God of the uncontainable, forever-overflowing-love-grace." ~ an excerpt from, " One thousand gifts: A dare to live fully right where you are ."

I pressed "publish post," and "Where hides the joy of the Lord" is published.  Still there is a gnawing sensation in the depths of my soul.   All is not as it should be. I reflect on my own written words about "giving thanks" and I reflect on words of Ann Voskamp.  I ponder hard and give much thought.  I bow and utter more words to Him who understands.  Still soul flame flickers much.   Wicker is damp...flame continues to burn out. Though I don't want to, I do the next thing while continuing to bow the soul and utter thanksgiving.  Still, the countenance isn't right.  A battle brews within.   Nevertheless, I continue the mind-chant, "eucharisteo always proceeds the miracle!" Finally, the miracle came!  It was after I'd made the Spanish rice to accompany the refried beans and the tacos.  I was tired and grabbed my Bible, headed to the backyard for more chants of the heart.  I'd been reading Colossians all day, Sunday a...

D aughters singing.  Brushes are their microphones.  Scarves are their hair. Father and son sit closely, heads hurdled almost together, discussing the basketball game: The Heats defeat.  Losing to the Magic (think that's the name).  I sit at dinner table taking it all in: the scenery.  I'm imploding. Quietness.  Stillness. "Please Lord let them grab hold of the cup.  Your cup." You tell me all the time: "Angie, be still and know that I am God." ~ Ps. 46:10 "Why won't you tell them?" I confess.  I'm worried silly about my family. The culprits?  Facebook.  Texting and Television.   I see what I've stayed home to do...to teach ...  suddenly being snatched away.  Eyes no longer sees the quiet heart of home.  And even sadder, they, my family are not having to stray from home for the experience.   Father tells the daughter,"Be on HIGH alert."  Satan is trying to grasp ...

Life without arms, hands, fingers and legs? Could you serve God if this was your truth?  More importantly, would you serve Him?  Would you see your life as a blessing or a curse? Born in 1982, Dr's have no medical explanation for this cause.   One would think that Nick's life was over, right ... "Never really began," some may say. Well, to those who say that, I say, "Oh how wrong you are...But God ..."  Yes, God had a plan for Mr. Vujicic's life.  God, Nick's creator and Father, is using Nick to touch the lives of others (you and me) and to bring the hope of Christ into people lives world wide. When I first heard about Nick's story I immediately thought about the conversation between Jesus and his disciples about the blind man. "As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.  And His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?' Jesus answered, 'It was neithe...