Gateways to Joy

Words of Wisdom:   As a woman, you are not automatically assigned the job of "chief worrier." Instead, fill your heart with trust, hope, and God's peace. You'll sleep so much better at night. Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater (in quality) than food, and the body (far above and more excellent) than clothing? (Amplified Bible) Karen Wolff, a guest writer for About.com, is host to a Christian Web site for women. Recently Karen launched a new ebook,  A Change of Heart , filled with tips to help women learn how to channel their God-given gifts toward positive and lasting life changes. I asked Karen to share some of those tips with us, and together we've compiled them into this beautiful collection of quotes, Bible verses and words of wisdom for women. For more information visit  Karen's ...

This was one of the scariest exercises for me.  I suspect had Lisa-Jo not "welcomed" me I may not have done this.  I've thought about participating in this exercise often.  Every now and then I go to Lisa Jo's blog on Friday's to see if she's still doing it. The five minute writing exercise that has scared me away for so long .  Wow, when I got over there today I see how it has grown.  "You scary-cat." I told myself.  "This is something good for you." I told myself, "Na, I'm not ready."  But it was something about that word, "Welcome." So here it is: My five minute writing exercise, unedited.  This is what to mind when I saw the word "welcome."  Now though, I wish that I had wrote how inviting I felt by the word.  So much so, in fact that it inspired me and made me feel comfortable enough to move forward and give this a try. Anyway, here's my exercise.  And for my blog readers, this is a writi...

Yes, ladies.  Today, I want to encourage you to fear the Lord. Why? "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."~ Proverbs 9:10 What happens when a woman fears or reverences God? First and foremost girls, when we reverence God we gain wisdom and knowledge of God's ways.   We understand Him better.  When we understand Him better by having His wisdom and knowledge, we move as we should, being less selfish and more selfless.  All these things are pleasing to Him.  If we are moving in ways that are pleasing to God, we will certainly please our husband's {particularly if he is a believer} and we will find ourselves caring for them, our children and our home in more of a selfless manner. I believe this is why we see the skills of the woman in Proverbs 31 highlighted. It shows us what God does for the woman who fears Him—respects Him.  We also see how God gives us our gifts to be a blessing to o...

One mistake that I often made when I first became saved was to try and be what I thought the "Proverbs 31 Woman" was.  Yes, I said, "mistake." For the next month or so I will share with you what I am getting from reading Proverbs 31: 10-31.  I shared yesterday that I am now a leader with the (in)Courage Community.  The group that I am co-leading with Wendi Lombardo is (in)Couraging you in your pursuit of Proverbs 31. I use the word "pursuit" here because first I believe we are always "becoming" or "evolving" as long as we are on this side of heaven.  Therefore, we are in pursuit of becoming the woman that God wants us to be. What I loved discovering in this book last night and this morning is that although this woman {or this portrait of several women} is described as being an excellent wife and her worth is far above jewels.   She is never thought of  being "excellent" or "worthy" due to her outer appea...

When I first began blogging in 2009, I had no idea that God was working even in those small details of my life. I certainly had no earthly idea that blogging and my online endeavors which included social media could ever be seen as a ministry. After I first became saved and got married my number one desire was foreign missions.  I longed to travel the world to tell people about Jesus.  Back then I saw myself as the "Modern day Mother Teresa."  My husband and I would apply to work with different mission organizations, but would always find the same thing happening.  We would have to step away. Time and time again the doors continue closing for us to travel.  One of the biggest reasons we had to continue stepping away is because I had at least seven miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy. I was told by doctors that I would never get pregnant, and that if I did it was a 98 percent certainty that my pregnancies would result i...

Sometimes, when life beats up on us and it seems that we've done just about all we can do— if you are anything like me, you run. I run in my actions, my heart and my attitude.  Never physical.  Sometimes the only one who knows that I am running is me and my Lord. I don't run right away.  I can go several months trying, praying, even a few years. I will try and give it a go.  But when I've reached that point and see where I'm doing and going through the same thing day in and day out, with no glimpse of an end.  I run. But I run away from you Lord.  Myself tells me, "I think I can probably do this better. Surely I will do it differently." But after months, sometimes years of getting beaten down—being on the outside of your will.  I come to realize in the sickness of my sinful heart that there is no better place to be then with you.  Even if being with you means that I must walk the barren field dessert inside of your will, if being in th...

I am very happy to have had the opportunity to  review Amy Bayliss' book, 'Pursuit of Proverbs 31.'   I've never met Amy personally, but I have known of her for quite sometime, and I have corresponded with her via e-mail on several  occasions.  Amy and I are both southern girls so I automatically feel a kindered spirit with, but not only are we southern girls, we are "heavenly" southern girls thus my bond to her. When I first began blogging, Amy Bayliss' blog , Sarah Mae, Like A Warm Cup of Coffee, and the women that I met on the Christian Women Affiliate forum were my life lines to me. These places is where I found my much needed sanity, understanding and camaraderie. I had been hurt by people in my church and those that I were close to so I swore off intimate relationships.  Needless to say God was doing a work with me and my heart online.  I would end up opening my heart in a new and very different way. It was through Amy and CWA th...