Gateways to Joy

Sara is her name. Her blog bio reads: "I'm just a girl who used to write for a magazine to make a living, and now writes a blog to make a life..." Sara suffered with Ankylosins Spondylitis {AS} .  A disease that kept her physically home-bound, yet in our world daily.  A lot of us who blog about our faith and life knew her very well... her story and what He was doing with her life. Yeah... blogging reaches out and touches lives.  It allows us to go places we wouldn't otherwise go, and meet people we wouldn't otherwise meet .  This is just one of the reasons why I blog and I ask many of you to share your stories ... your quiet time "aha" moments, your ups and your downs.  In doing so we never know who we are helping. Yes, our stories have helped Sara, but Sara has helped us in many ways.  One in particular is the fact that she showed us what  choosing joy looks like, choosing joy in spite of our circumstances is what we are called to do. If...

{ a repost from the archives ... a remeberance for me as I began planning the new school year} Last night when talking with one of my children I wanted to have a big old fashion hissy-fit.  Quickly, words of Elisabeth Elliot's ran fluid in memory.  Words that began to resonate within.  Words that quieted the flare-up that wanted releasing. Don't train your children to respond to your frantic gestures, rants and threats . Instead we mothers should be sure to have their attention first before we began to instruct.  I've found with some ... especially my boys, I do best to have them repeat to me what I've just said.  This method for me causes less feelings and emotions to flare. So mothers lets be sure that we have our children's full attention and speak in a calm normal tone of voice. Warning mothers:  Say what you mean and mean exactly what you say.  If you don't mean it, then by all means don't say it. Fo...

"M iss Mabel Shaw, one of the first two missionaries sent out to Rhodesia by the London Missionary Society 1915, wrote: 'They told me a lion had been about ... at last I rose to go, and was just about to mount my bicycle when out of one little hut came the old leper headman.   He held a spear between the stumps that once were hands, and he went hobbling along the path in front of me.  I called to him and he stopped and looked around.' 'Where are you going?' 'I am going to escort you to Mbereshi village.   You can't go alone with lions about.' He would not have it.  It was not fitting for me to go alone.  I looked at him, a feeble old man, handless, feet half eaten, his whole body covered with marks of disease, and his face most pitiful.   I said to him, half-banteringly, and with a smile, 'Now what could you do if a lion came?' He drew himself up, and with a quiet dignity said, 'Have I not got a life to give?'  I was silent, se...

E very Wednesday I participate in community over at Ann Voskamps A Holy Experience, where we share a spiritual practice that draws us closer to God, allowing us to walk with Him.  Today's post won't be a "spiritual practice" about what we are doing for Easter per se, but instead I chose to focus on "The suffering's of Christ" giving gratitude and attention to what took place leading to His death by bowing the head and knees—hourly in recognition to these sufferings on my behalf.  I'm choosing to take the time to learn about the physical and spiritual sufferings and to share them...testify. I pray that the introduction to the sufferings of Christ will cause you to pause .  Give gratitude.  Put skin on holy words realizing what Jesus allowed to happen only because He loves you and me.   The torture of Jesus is cruel, inhumane, and disturbing , but I've chosen to learn about it and walk through the agonizing, bone-chilling, stomach tight...

`A ll I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson I read that quote and pondered on its meaning while folding warm towels in my quiet room.  Lights were dimmed, candles burned...fragrances were taken in and I was at peace to do more mind-travels.  This time my minds eye took me back to an illustration that I once heard a pastor give. A child was up high on a sliding board, when he became frightened.  He would not come down, nor would he turn around and go back the same way he came up.  He felt stuck.  Stilled. "Jump," said the father of the little boy.  I will catch you. "No," said the child. This went on for a few seconds, and then the little boy jumped.  Landing into the arms of his loving father.  What the child had in his father is what many of us adults lack in our heavenly Father:  Trust.   How did such trust come to flourish in the child to the point where he finally must...

I 'am tired.  My back hurts, neck aches, and I want to get back in bed, but I can't.  There's too much that needs to be tackled in the house today. I've been staying up late into the early mornings.  Not for writing, though, sometimes I try and use my time wisely and concentrate on that task.  No, I'm up late now, mostly waiting for my husband.  Remember he and a friend just opened the restaurant...eatery?   Being up late like this with house quiet and no one to talk to causes a mind to travel-think.  And I began to travel, think about what I am doing with myself...my life's work. Cleaning, cooking, refereeing, chauffeuring, encouraging, respecting, loving... all my responsibilities to my family.  This is my high calling service to God. It is my first responsibility—even before writing.   It is: heaven's work.  And I'm proud to be one called to this service.  Being a stay-at-home moth...

Yesterday, while driving my son to his basketball game, I was able to rest and reflect while driving.  Believe it or not lots of times that's how I find the time to unwine. I love Christian radio and yesterday I listened to the late Adrian Rogers. Adrian said there's three things a Christian can do to be sure they don't backslide. Spend at least 15 minutes listening to God from His Word.  Spend at least 15 minutes talking to God through prayer. Find someone to tell about God everyday He said the problem come in because usually, though, we sit with Bible open, or we bend the knee often times we don't devote an entire 15 minutes to these things daily. I do have regular Bible and prayer time, but this morning, I timed myself and spent at least 15 minutes doing the above.  My telling someone about Jesus everyday will surely be me blogging to you, but hopefully...I'm pretty sure God will send someone in my life to disciple. So try this and let me know how ...

T he words still my eyes.  This is where the Father wants His daughter to begin her early morning meditation.  " The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; with a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart And on the horns of their altars, as they remember their children, so they remember their altars and their Asherim.  By green trees on the high hills.  O mountain of Mine in the countryside, I will give over your wealth and all your treasures for booty, your high places for sin throughout your borders.  And you will, even of yourself, let go of your inheritance that I will give you;  And I will make you serve your enemies In the land which you do not know; for you have kindled a fire in My anger w hich will burn forever." ~ Jeremiah 17: 1-4 "What does this mean concerning me?"  I asked my Father. I read on.  I'm stilled. "Thus says the Lord, 'Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh ...