Gateways to Joy

G odly instruction is great and should be carried out regardless of who the messenger is.  However, Godly instruction (wisdom from the wise)  from our elderly is becoming more and more priceless.  As I get older I'm learning that "older" and gray head doesn't necessarily mean "wise" as I believed when I was younger.  Even more treasured is wisdom which comes from a mother or father-in-law. Moses...the leader of the Hebrews was blessed to have such a father-in-law. A wise man.  I've been reading through Exodus.  I've laughed and I've cried.  At times I have felt as if I were watching a movie—  I mean come on :  "Moving clouds."  "Wheels coming off of chariots." Confusion.   Reading Exodus has been sheer delight...so much so that at times my family runs in to see what's going on after witnessing my loud comments and delight!  It's been a pleasurable experience. I don't know abo...

Giving thanks for now...this moment, this time...that's what gratitude looks like to me. I use to think it was about giving a BIG thank you when the extraordinary happened, but I've come to learn that my routine...day-to-day work of: working, writing, schooling my children, cleaning of the house; the cooking of meals, mothering, being his wife and His daughter are all part of my extraordinary work.  And that is where I also find Him...my Father— I AM, in the doing of my calling. It's not just in church where I find Him, or in the reading of His book, or doing "good deeds" ..., no I find Him and the gifts right there in my living out what He has taught me in church, and the reading of His book.  In the midst of me "living" I find Him...I feel Him ... beside me...talking to me...guiding me...teaching me. And that's where I find my joy.  "I find joy in the tarry there." Did you know that gratitude is the key to living a contented (h...

W hen some out-of-the ordinary supply is needed in order for us to accomplish the job God has given us, we can be confident He will provide. "Shoes of Iron " were asked of Moses' blessing for Asher, an impossibly long-lasting provision from God.  The old spiritual says, 'I got shoes, you got shoes, all God's children got shoes ..." But not all God's children have iron ones.   Only those who need them. Our heavenly Father knows exactly what we will require to fulfill His purposes for us .  It is wrong—it is in fact, a sin for us to worry about where the shoes will come from.  "Trust me!"   God says to us.  "I'll give you iron ones if only iron ones can do this job." I worried this morning about the seemingly impossibility of doing everything that needs to be done today, tomorrow and for next week since I'm now working outside the home for the next three months (and still homeschooling). Then I remembered this a...

I t's still dark out though it's morning.  The house is hushed.  Still. I rise to talk to Him—Creator and the creature.  I'm remembering my spiritual practices—the one that draws me closer to Him.  The things that we write about on Wednesday's over at Ann Voskamps. I'm reading Colossians—not necessarily trying to memorize it as Ann and other's are doing.  I'm simply reading through it.  I plan on reading through it several times this year to see ... what He has for me there.  I love reading and then re-reading scripture.  I always over look things and He always has more to say to me during each read and re-read.  I love that, communing with Him.  And I love when He works through others...setting me on fire by the ordinary person, His men and His women. That's what He's doing to me through Ann and a few other bloggers.  Who would have known when I began this journey of blogging that it would first be done to share my walk wit...

T his year seems to be the year that I've taken to consciously form habits.  My goals are simple: energetically search for wisdom.  treasure His commandments within my heart. make my ear attentive to wisdom.  incline my heart to understanding and ... search...search and pray for the hidden treasures that wisdom holds. Ann Voskamp has written a book, "One Thousand Gifts:  A dare to live fully right where you are."   I haven't been able to shake that title—that dare.  I'm going to accept that dare, challenge, if you will.  This dare is what I'm going to practice to become habit.  Living fully right where I am.  To do this I believe the above goals are necessary for it takes wisdom to see the true beauty in such a dare.  It takes wisdom to recognize the hidden treasures of the  one thousand gifts that stare us in the face each and every day—365 days a year. How will this practice of habit began f...

J esus what can I say to you that you don't already know? First, I want to tell you what I'm taking part in with Ann & Holley (and some other lady bloggers).  We're calling ourselves "Word Girls." Each Tuesday each of us Word Girls are linking up to Ann's blog: a holy experience and sharing our series of letters about loving you with our words. So dear Lord, how do I love you? INSTANTLY sadness befalls my heart.  My heart knows that I don't love you like I should. BUT ... You love me— even still. The next question that comes to mind is ... Do people see your love displayed through me? Not often enough. Last week Holley's letter to Ann was titled: "Why You and Your Words are More than Enough." I've been thinking about that—pondering on the truth of that statement.  Is it true Lord?  Are me and my words enough? It is true.  "Just offer what you have.  I will make up the difference."   That's wha...

T he LORD never cease to amaze me. Have any of you ever desired something, never really praying about it.  Well, I take that back—you pray about it, maybe even often, but you pray and then leave it alone.  Believing that He will answer, but not until the far-future (you believe). I wish I could express my feelings in regards to this issue in a way that I know you could understood.  What I'm trying to convey is that God does give us the desires of our hearts.  Some times we have to wait a long time for some of those desires to come forth and sometimes we don't. Regardless, please be encourage that when we have desires and needs... The Father gives us some of those desires when He knows that He will be glorified. The Father also graciously takes care of the needs of His children. Day-by-day He is continuing to care for me before I can even breath out through words what some of my desires and needs are. I'm so glad that my Father in heaven loves ...

I ' d like to share with you a Scripture that's been on my mind: I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit.  He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit.  He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  (John 15: 1-2) I've read this so many times and I've heard it read, but some where along the way...I seem to have MISSED, "EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT.  HE TAKES AWAY AND EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARS FRUIT.  HE PRUNES IT SO THAT IT MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT." Don't misunderstand:  I've READ it— but I haven't really READ it, know what I mean? Do you ever do that?  Seemingly by-pass something in Scripture? This passage tells me that NOT ALL CHRISTIANS are being pruned.  I didn't realize that.   Only the  CHRISTIAN'S who are bearing fruit are worthy. The word PRUNE is defines as something to rid or clear of (anything s...

F acing  times of troubles? In my morning devotions I read a conversation between God and Jeremiah where God explained to Him why he was having troublesome days. I'm so sure God's  respond is the same to YOU and ME many times. When we're going through problems troublesome moments can be very useful.  A good way to look at our troubles is to think of them as "Our training."  They're our "training days." I'm convinced that it is in the days of difficulties that we are able to see what kind of character we've developed.  To check your character begin to discern your own actions—learn what they mean.   You can check for things such as: What is your thinking like when you are facing certain troubles? How do you feel within? Are you angry?  Why?  Why not? Are you blaming someone else?  Or have you taken on too much of the blame? How is your relationship with God, now? How is your relationship with...