Gateways to Joy

I woke up feeling a bit overwhelmed this morning about leading this group and writing for this cause . I mean come on, "Who am I?" Who am I that someone will listen to me?  I'm ordinary.  Very ordinary. Instantly upon having this thought, God reminded me of His talk with Moses .  And I remember that when God calls His children to a task He equips us. What is "I AM" calling you to do that is making you feel scared, uncomfortable or overwhelmed? Don't let your heart be troubled by the call dear one because when He calls you He equips you. ******** The group that I will be leading is (in)courage - Gateway to Joy.  Open registration begins September 16, 2013 and it ends September 20. I will write more on it Monday, but in the meantime here's a video to introduce you to the amazing women who work tirelessly behind the scenes with the ministry of (in)courage.   ********* Okay, now to my second project. The cause that I fe...

Isn't it horrible that we are on day 22 of this month, and I am only on day 3 of our prayers.  Yikes! I almost gave up, but I'm not going to.  This is important to me and it is important for me to do for my husband. I want to share something that I read this morning with you. Truth Demands A Response: "One foggy night, the captain of a large ship saw what appeared to be another ship's lights approaching in the distance.  This other ship was on a course that would mean a head-on collision. Quickly, the captain signaled to the approaching ship: 'Please change you course 10 degrees west.' The reply came blinking back through the thick fog: 'You change your course 10 degrees east.' Indignantly, the captain pulled rank and shot a message back to the other ship: 'I am a sea captain with 35 years of experience.  Change your course 10 degrees west!' Without hesitation, the signal flashed back: 'I am a seaman, fourth class.  You cha...

We laugh.  We talk as we stroll about admiring things in the store. "Ooo.  Ahh." We say as we pick things up to touch, feel.  On and on we chatter interrupting each others sentences, finishing them too. I think to myself, "He's done it again.  God has answered my heart-felt prayer.  He loves me this I know." I cried out to Him, just yesterday, "Father help me.  Help me make my children first priority again.  First before my beloved blogging.  First before my beloved writing, and before Internet socializing.  First before the phone calls, the errands.  First before this and first before that.  Give us the opportunity to be just my children and me.  Give us opportunities with no expectations."  Today it's just us.  My first born, second born and me.  I'd thought that maybe they would not want to be with me—hanging out, spending time with me their mama.. I remember a time when all they wanted was me. ...

Y esterday my husband asked me to help him with something.  I did.  After I'd finished he rant & raved about how he knew I could do it and he went on and on singing my praise. I was taken aback a bit by it all, as it didn't seem like much of anything to me.  But it got me to thinking ...  and I began thinking about: being the wife my husband needs rather than being the wife that I want to be, or that I think I should be.   Is there a difference?  After giving thought to my question, I immediately began to pray, "Lord show me how to be the wife that my husband needs." I learned something.  It was something that I'd learned before, but it was also something that I'd forgotten.  "Just as God's ways aren't my ways, neither is my husband way my way.  Just as God has to teach me His ways.  He has to teach me my husband ways.  And just as it is an ongoing process to knowing God's way—something that I will never grasp fully while ...