Gateways to Joy

The last time we were together we talked about fear as a stronghold of us back for going after our God-size dream.  We also said that fear of failure is often the stumbling block to trying. I know for me a lot of times the reason I am scared of failing is because I feel like my skill level is inadequate.  I always end up finding someone who does things that I am trying to do "better than me," and I start to feel inadequate.  Fear by comparison is lethal. Many of you have written me and told me your stories.  I see where you are creative women, mothers-- no different from me, who have put your art on hold in order to care for your family. However, as we are learning, it is hard to squash the want and desire to create for too long when God has gifted you in that area. I've decided to do a couple of breif {15-20 min} tutorials explaining to you to set up a free blog and design a free blog. Many people will tell you to get your own domain.  ...

Are strongholds keeping you in a life of sin and bondage?  Are they holding you back, stopping you from being all that God wants you to be and needs you to be in order to build His kingdom? If you answered yes to these questions, I want to tell you that you already have what you need to resist their calls, lures and temptations.  That is, of course, if you are a child of God. Remember how good you felt when you first accepted Christ? I certainly do.  I was going to be God's favorite girl!  I was going to spend all of my life seeking to please Him.  I felt invincible. {image courtesy of: beginningandend.com} However, after some years, I found myself doing things that I never thought I would do, or doing things that I had left behind years ago.  I was devastated with myself and wondered, "How could this be?"  I was doing that which I didn't want to do. No one, not even Jesus, is exempted from the calls, lures and temptations of sin and b...

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that 2014 is my year to "Make It Happen." I want to really put forth some effort in making some of my goals. . . spiritual, family, health, education and so on . . . happen.  Upon meditating last night I realized that a lot of us have strongholds.  Actually I realized this after meditation on the words that I'd read from Beth Moore's book 'Breaking Free.' After sitting back and examining me, I began to think even more.  We can attempt to do all sorts of things, but for the Christian, if we don't examine ourselves and sincerely work at getting ourselves right with God first, we are working in vain. I am not alluding to us being perfect because we aren't and never will be.  Nor am I saying that if we want God to do this then we must do that... .  But what I am saying is that we cannot live any way we want on purpose and expect God to bless us with the desires of our hearts when w...