Gateways to Joy

Burdens?  This and that? Sometimes the walls in your life, the glue that binds you together, the thing that keeps you sane, that makes you continue to chose right over wrong seems to loose its grip and the adhesive wears away. I know the Holy Spirit is steadfast within us, but sometimes as believers we can ignore that very adhesiveness that binds the being within us.  We ignore Him and go our own way. When I get like this I find myself asking, "Is it worth it?" I mean really and truly is all of what I am doing, not doing and giving up really worth it?  Sometimes you just wonder these things you know? Most of us, the one's who have dedicated our lives to walking in the way that pleases God, make decisions for our life based on how we feel God's leading. However, we learn very quickly that just because we are obedient to what God has told us doesn't mean that our obedience in that area will SEEMINGLY to us— turn out perfect or pleasant.  Sometimes it see...

Hey girls, groups are now forming as of,September 15th for the On-line Bible study of 1 John, which will official began Monday morning,September 19, 2011. If you need the schedule for the reading you may get it by clicking on the highlighted link, Good Morning Girls 1 John reading schedule, and go ahead and take a look at this e-book that I hope will answer any questions you may have. Also click on the highlighted portion of this link to see and print out your scheduled daily readings for the entire 12 weeks! Many of you are women very familiar with God's Word and reading it, but I know that sometimes it's good to change things around sometimes, so I thought I would share Courtney's method of how she studies. Remember, Good Morning Girls uses the SOAP method—which is what Courtney will share on this video. So take about 7 minutes out of your schedules to watch the her video please. Also, almost all of you seem to either be having trouble with leaving a comment or ...

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...

H e loves me right?  I don't feel loved.  I wonder:  Why are things so hard for me?  Why can't I have a few of my heart desires?  Sure, He cares for my basic needs:  food, shelter and clothing, but can't I have just a little more?  Can't I see what the other side is like?  You know over there.  Can't I have a few of the things that ... has? "Lord forgive me for a heart so ungrateful and foolish.  I don't mean to be.  I just want more and wonder why I can't have it?" Am I simply meant to be a wife, mother who homeschools, and blog?   Just be a keeper of the house, clean and take care of the laundry, cook ...?  Be the one to point others in the right direction?  I love it, don't get me wrong.  I just want more.  I think. Is that bad— me wanting more?  Is it too late for me—have I become to old?  After all I'll be 45 in May.  Are all my dreams and goals just that?  A th...

T oday is Tuesday—  word day!  The word that I've been thinking about lately is: yoke .  Yoke as it is referred to in the Bible.  In the Bible the word "yoke" speaks of a wooden bar or a wooden apparatus that is placed over the necks of oxen and other pulling animals which connects them and enables them to pull carts, plows and so on —as seen in the pictures below.  You can also see the ox pulling the brick with the yoke. Often times we will read where Jesus has used the word "yoke" as a metaphor for describing the union between us—people and our labor of service .  I thought about this word as I lay restless in my bed trying to go to sleep Sunday night.  Why?  Fear had crept up...  a slew of worries and fear were upon me.  One scary scenario after another plagued my mind.  For those of you who read Ann Voskamp book, you know when she talks about the fear of the big "C" word, cancer?  Gosh how I can...

"W hen there is deep misunderstanding which has led to the erection of barriers between two who once were close, every day brings the strengthening of those barriers if they are not, by God's grace, breached.  One prays and finds no way at all to break through.  Love seems to "backfire" every time.  Explanations become impossible.  New accusations arise, it seems, from nowhere {though it is well to recall who is named the Accuser of the brethren}.  The situation becomes ever more complex and insoluble, and the mind goes round and round, seeking the place where things went wrong, brooding over the words which were like daggers, regretting the failures and mistakes, wondering {most painfully} how it could have been different.  Much spiritual and emotional energy is drained in this way—but the Lord wants to teach us to commit, trust, and rest. "Leave him to me this afternoon, is what his word is.  There is nothing else that I am asking of you this ...

M arriage: a covenant between a man and a woman that binds them together for life.  Today we will discuss, "The Practice of Marriage," as it causes us to Walk Closer to Him.  The practice of marriage is a practice of FULLY and COMPLETELY giving of oneself for the other—even when you may not want to.  It's a life long practice . Marriage teaches us to love the "seemingly" unlovable sometimes.  The same qualities that Christ uses with us—His bridegroom we must use with our spouse, and they with us. It's a union that's only released through death. It's the coming together of two to become one. "It's the worse of times.  It's the best of times ." In the practice of marriage, we laugh and we cry.  We love and we hate.  We learn how flawed and sin-ravished "we" are. On the surface it seems like a most "ordinary" experience, but it is the most HOLY of experiences.  For in marriage we practice: Livin...

T here's nothing like the pain of harsh words coming from a soul that is wrong, and has wronged you, but won't admit to the wrongness: pain. Our words—the utterances that flow out of our mouths... we praise with these utterances, and we lash the soul with these same utterances from the mouth...from the heart. Friendships are built and friendships are torn down by the choice of our words.  Words give us a glance into the soul of the speaker, sometimes a troubled heart is able to hide, seemingly fool with their words, but it's only for a season.  Eventually the true heart and true self give way to truth. His Word tells us ... A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.  ~ Proverbs 15: 1-3 This week my heart has been broken...shattered into pieces by the harsh words of a friend. I want to fade away, but I don't....

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...

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...