Gateways to Joy

Elisabeth Elliot passed this morning

2015-06-15T17:01:00.002-07:00

Hi dear friends,

So many of you still write to me asking about Elisabeth Elliot. She passed away this morning. Here are a few links that talk about her passing.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/june/died-elisabeth-elliot-missionary-author-gates-of-splendor.html

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/slices/elisabeth-elliot-influential-missionary-and-author-died-morning

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/06/15/elisabeth-elliot-has-died-heres-what-the-wife-of-a-martyred-missionary-meant-for-thousands-of-women-like-me/

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

daily bread: become like a little child

2014-07-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." ~ Matt 18:3 NRSV

I read this verse and thought, "Hm. What does become like a little child mean?"

Depend on God? Depending on God isn't easy. Sometimes in certain situations it's even easier to say then do.

Today when you're going about your day, working, cooking, cleaning, resting, laughing, remember to be like the little child Jesus talks about in Matthew 18:3, and remember no matter how scary the place is where you find yourself today:

"God is with you. God is for you regardless of how many times you've messed up & more importantly, God loves you."

Have a great day!

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

I have another blog

2014-06-05T06:23:00.000-07:00

Hi this is to let many of you know that I have started a new blog. I plan on starting to write about my devotions here soon, and the things that God is teaching me. I have moved over to www.angelaambroise.com because I talk about a lot more of my passions. I don't post everyday anymore because I have been working hard on making wood signs for my shop, but I do talk about the things I like. So if you get a chance stop on by I would love to hear from you. www.angelaambroise.com xo ~ Angela

so many things pulling at me

2014-03-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

Oh it has been a minute or two since we've come together. I miss you desperately. These days it seems that I can barely keep my thoughts straight let alone put them down on paper.

I hope this post finds all of you doing well. I am doing so-so, still having problems with my mouth. Still working at my God-sized dream.

For the past few weeks I've been diligently working with my 17 year-old son who has had a lot of questions about the Bible even questioning parts of it.

This broke my heart because I felt like I'd fell as a mother--as his mother.

"What?!... wait?! Where is all of this coming from Lord?" I cried out.

My son is such a deep thinker. He thinks of things that have never entered my mind. He looks at things and reasons in way that are Greek to me. God is growing me with this child.

For the past three weeks we stay up way past 2'o clock reading Chuck Swindoll's study guide, Hope in Hurtful Times! I can't tell you how much it means to me that people like Chuck Swindoll have made it their life's mission to produce such material. It is a God sent and it has been our life saver. I have clung on to my Bible and the Word like never before friends because I so see the fiery darts of the evil one trying to get a hold of my child's heart.

What the Lord has showed me in this was that just because my son's questions have never been my questions, it doesn't mean that his questioning is wrong. I've learned so much about God and His Word that I didn't know by searching out my son's questions.

Even still though, I do remind him that at the end of the day. . . when it is all said and done, knowing and not knowing the answer to the questions will not make a difference. The difference is only made by each of us knowing God's Son as our personal Savior, and then living in lives according to His standards so that His kingdom is blessed and we will not only inherit the Kingdom as our home, but we will inherit some rewards.

I have plenty more to say about this, but for now I will let this be enough lest I ramble too much.

xo,
Angela

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Psst . . .

Are you a blogger who needs help with your blog? Or maybe you are an entrepreneur and need a virtual assistant, or maybe you need a graphic designer for a website, ebook, or other online endeavors, or you need a social media manager. If you need help with anything virtual friend, I ask you to consider hiring me. My prices vary depending on the project, project size and the length of time. If you are interested in hiring me please send me an email to gatewaystojoy@gmail.com.

Maybe you don't need my services, but you know of someone who does. If that's the case will you please consider referring me. I will give you a referral fee for your kindest.

Thanks again.

xo

What I Love Most About My Home Artwork

2014-02-17T22:29:00.000-08:00

I feel so proud to show this to you!

Why? Because normally I would be too afraid to share my work with anyone, but I am conquering my fears!

This one is for sale! If you're interested in buying it email me at: gatewaystojoy@gmail.com, and put "art work" in the subject line.

I'm taking custom orders too!

So how are you doing with your art work?

Are you conquering your fears?

do you feel worthy of your dreams?

2014-02-17T07:16:00.000-08:00

I don't. I don't feel worthy of my dreams or anything else today.

I hate those days when I let someone else dictate my mood. That's what I'm fighting through right now.

I'm not worried though because I know it will pass. I just hate letting myself get here in the first place. When I think about it long and hard, the reason, the real reason someone was able to change my demeanor so drastically is because I am feeling unworthy.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3: 22-23

Regardless of how I feel, God reassures me in my head that I am worthy, thanks to the blood of Jesus and me accepting Him.

Friends, no matter what mistakes I make, no matter how many times I fall down, I will get back up and serve God forever. Hopefully, you will too.

Are you feeling unworthy today?

Is that fear of unworthiness holding you back from going after your God-sized dream?

Do you remember a man name David, or a woman name Rahab, or a guy name Paul? We would look at each of them and their lives and by our human sinful standards we would say they were unworthy, right?

But as Holley Gerth points out in her book, God-size dreams, "God chooses messy, broken people to accomplish His will."

Guess what? Today He's choosing you and He's choosing me.

My gift to you today is this video. This video is for any of you who is creative and want to start putting their art up to share with the world, but doesn't have the foggiest idea of how to do so.

This is the second part to a video series that I'm doing showing you how to set up a blogger blog and design it all for free!

Now you have no excuse not to let the world view your God given talent (s).

Share your gifts. Do it in spite of strongholds, situations, circumstances, feelings of unworthiness and fear.

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

a tutorial on creating and setting up a blogger blog for the creative soul

2014-02-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

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. While this is good advice and true, for where most of you are right now, I suggest you start slow. Learn first, get your feet wet and then in a couple of months or even a year from now, see where you are and then evaluate where you want to go next.

Today's video and a few subsequent videos are going to be demonstrations on me sharing how to get the process going. I have only done tutorials for a few clients, but I've mainly coached using Skype so doing the videos are still new to me. I say this so that you will forgive the "and so's" that I find myself uttering so much. As well as I hope you forgive the smacking of the lips and the "um's" :-)

On this particular video, also, for some reason unbenonuced to me I continued saying "hover" instead of "hoover."

You are welcome to ask questions and I will do my best to answer. Please understand that I am a blog coach, and if you're interested in learning about the particulars of blogging and how to reach your target audience and specific goals you are welcome to send me an email to find out about the specify on being coached. These videos are just my gift to you and an introduction because I truly understand where a lot of you are.

Also note that I only take about 4 ladies in my queue because I, too, am trying to focus on my art business, homeschool my kids and be a wife. You can send me an email to gatewaystojoy (at) gmail.com for more information on blog coaching.

It is my hope that you come away from each video feeling more empowered then you did before the tutorial, and ready to share your God given talents with the world and experience your God-size dream unfold.

Happy learning!

xoxo

"What gifts are waiting to be opened within your heart?"

"How will you use them to change your little corner of the world today?"

Read 1 Peter 4:1-10 to find out more about serving others.

"God, thank you for creating me with gifts. I'm grateful for the strengths that you've placed within me, and the ways those are expressed as actions through my skills. I humbly acknowledge that I do have something to offer and that you have made me to make a difference." Amen. ~ Holley Gerth

Lastly, if I that many of you have the same questions, I will start a Google handout community where we can video chat, maybe once a month, while we go through this series and you call can meet each other {on video} and encourage one another.

We will see.

is fear holding you back from experiencing your God-sized dream?

2014-02-11T11:24:00.001-08:00

Right before I got ready to publish this post, I received an email from another blogger, Angela England, whose post I subscribe to. What caught my attention about this particular post was her title, 'The Power of Exposing Your Dreams.'

I opened the email and this was her introduction:

"Did you know that a dormant seed is so well protected it can survive for years in a dead-but-not dead, alive-but-not alive state?

In fact, kernels of wheat found buried in ancient Egyptian tombs were able to be germinated. The wheat survived for centuries, yet never served its true purpose."

We do that with our dreams, don't we? We keep them safely tucked away and protected in the shell of our minds and hearts in a state of dead, but not dead, alive, but not alive, and no one benefits. Why do we do this? Because we're fearful. Fearful of the unknown, fear of failure.

After you read the blog post today, please take time to listen to Alma Loveland and Melanie Burke, two of my favorite graphic designers, as they discuss why they are glad they failed.

Today we're going to continue looking at the strongholds, and as I'm sure you've guessed by now we are going to take a look at the stronghold (or stumbling block) of fear.

Fear can be a good thing in certain situations as we all know. It is one of our God-given emotions that help us sense danger, and protect us from harmful situations. The bad thing about fear is that it is an emotion that is induced by our perception of something, and because perception is involved many people use their fear of failure to completely stop them from trying something they are unsure about.

"I want to be a female entrepreneur." I say this over and over, and over again to anyone who will lend me their ear. More than that I want to have a thriving business, and I want to encourage others to go for their God-sized dream too.

As I sit in my living room drinking my morning coffee, my heart is sadden. I've just finished thinking to myself, "Why am I still trying?"

You see the printer that I use to do my work is acting up and I can't figure out why. It always seems to be the same with me. I start and feel like I'm headed somewhere then this small nit-picking thing will happen, and that small nit-picking thing will happen, and to be perfectly honest... and I just end up being so downtrodden and discouraged. It never fails. Seems like something is always happening.

It's so disappointing to have planned something and prepared for it, only for it to become disarrayed.

Sadly this is not an uncommon thing for me, and many others who are trying, working on making their God-size dream a reality.

Granted your stumbling block may not be mine, nor mine yours, but when starting off you have something. Question is, what are you going to do when you're faced with that something, hum?

Jesus came face-to-face with His stumbling block of fear too.

Grab your Bible if you can and take a look at Luke 22:39-46. It reads:

"And He came out and went, as was His custom, to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. And when He came to the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation. And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.

And there appeared to Him an Angel from heaven, strengthening Him, and being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow., and He said to them, 'Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation." ESV

Did you notice where it says, "... and being in agony?"

This word has many definitions, but one meaning that stood out to me is the meaning of competition. Right here in this passage we see Jesus battling to not give in to His fears... and wanting to accomplish what His Father had for Him.

Jesus was approaching His God-sized dream too. His "dream" if you will of accomplishing the will of the Father.

Lovelies, each of us has a God-sized dream that's going to take will, wit, determination and perseverance, along with much more. It's okay to be scared. But we must not let our fears stop us from getting to what God has for us.

We must break the stronghold that fear has on some of us.

Remember Beth Moore defines a stronghold as anything that exalts itself in our minds, "pretending" to be bigger or more powerful than God. It steals much of our focus and causes us to feel overpowered. Control. Mastered. I would say that about sums up what many of us allow fear to do to us.

In order to go after your God-sized dream we are going to have to be like Jesus and say, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine will be done Lord." Then we, like our Savior, will have to pick ourselves up, even if it isn't a physical "pick me up" and move toward the cross of crucifying those fears and negative thoughts.

Like last time, I want to say that the battle of a stronghold is primarily in our minds. If you want help with your strongholds I encourage you to read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Ask God to help you with your plans of making His dream for you a reality.

Tell me, have you identified any strongholds in your life that are holding you back from your God-sized dream?

What are you going to do about them? Tell me about it in the comment section below.

God bless you.

xoxo
Angela

Psst, would you be so kind as to like my Facebook page and then follow me on Instagram and Pinterest? Thanks, and don't forget to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss anything!

share your gift with me

2014-02-08T11:05:00.002-08:00

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

Are you sharing the gift that you received from God with others friends?

Today is a fun post! I want to share my son's, my youngest boy, art work with you all today. He did this all on his own when he was 8. He did it at the same time I was learning Photoshop. Everyday for at least an hour they have to work on something creatively and this is what he did.

Sadly I had put it on my computer and didn't find it until two years later {today}. So he's 10 now.

Anyway, I want this to be a place where you can share your dreams, talents, gifts, fears... whatever it is.

At the end of this post would you so kindly share in the comments below what you believe your gift to be? It doesn't have to be anything artsy, and then share your story. Are you using your gift? If you are in what way? If you aren't, why not?

Psst, would you be so kind as to like my Facebook page and then follow me on Instagram and Pinterest? Thanks, and don't forget to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss anything!

xoxo, Angela

a new begining

2014-02-04T04:06:00.001-08:00

Do you still dream? Seriously.

What are they? Have you attempted any of them, even one?

Do you plan on pursuing any of your dreams?

For weeks, I've been sharing with you how I've finally started, back {after 20 years},thinking about my art, and having my own business. I put myself out here big time, calling myself an artist, because normally when I think about art I think about those people who can really draw. I can't draw. After reading Emily Freeman's book I decided to embrace the talent of art that I feel that God has blessed me with.

Even though I was publicly embracing who I was, there was still another problem that I faced. I've always had aspirations of being an entrepreneur and I still loved writing.

Trying to figure out what to pursue and how to pursue it my heart became overwhelmed so I started hitting and missing with writing, blogging, painting, doing my wood signs, graphic designing, and even what I was called to do for my family. I didn't know what to do really. One conclusion I came to was that I had to overcome my fears of being inadequate, not knowing everything and wondering what others would think of me or rather my talent.

"What if they don't like..."

"What if they think I'm ..."

"What if..." became the driving force of my thoughts and actions, until it had me all over the place, thinking that I had to try and do everything possible to make people like and accept what I was trying to do.

You see I know that God has gifted me {I don't mean this to be arrogant}, and I know that He has given His children special gifts and talents. I've just been unsure of how to bring everything I feel like He's calling me to together.

As you all know, those who have visited her a while, I am once again a leader for the (in)Couragers Community Group. Holley Gerth is a co-founder of (in)couragers and Daysprings {if I'm not mistaken}. Anyway, Holley has a book that I purchased not too long ago, 'Opening the Door to Your God-Sized Dream.'

For whatever reason, I decided last night to open it up and read it. Not only that I went to her website and looked around a bit, and discovered that she has another site dedicated to God-Sized Dreamers-- the site is actually God Sized Dream.

Anyway after looking around I saw where she offered a link-up and the link up this week is about the backdrop of your God Sized Dream...your story.

After thinking about my gifts, talents, what I like and what I am trying to accomplish as far as fitting all of my stuff together. Stuff being what I told you all I have always had an interest in art, writing and entrepreneurship I think I want to spend my time sharing my art which includes my paintings, but also my love for writing, entrepreneurship and my new found gift as an encourager.

I love doing all of those things and find such a great "exhaling" kind of moment when I'm thrust into any of these situations. I find great peace and joy doing these things, and just like I do when I'm homeschooling my children, I know that not only am I exactly where I want to be. I know that I am exactly where God wants me to be.

So I'm starting a new beginning here on Gateways to Joy. My mantra is still "everything if given to God can be your gateway to joy." I experience this in my life everyday and have even learned that this statement is even true when pursuing your God-sized dream.

I ask you dear friend once again: do you still dream?

Before I leave you, I want to share with you what a God-sized dream is as define by Holley. A God-sized dream is a desire in your heart for more of what God has for you.

In the weeks to come, we will examine more of our new beginnings and following our God-sized dream. But we will also continue to look at how strongholds can prevent us from getting to that God-size dream that God has tucked away especially for us.

Until next time,

xo, Angela
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This post is linked to Your God-Sized Dream Backstory & Wednesday's Prayer Girls and Link up Party

sin & bondage

2014-02-01T08:14:00.004-08:00

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 bondage. But like Jesus, anyone who is a son or daughter of the Most High has everything that they need to resist the calls, the lures and the temptations. We just have to use what's been given to us: the Holy Spirit

Jesus has liberated us from sin remember? We have been set free! God has broken the sin yoke over us, we just have to walk in this truth!

I want to challenge you to examine yourself and your life. Identify what strongholds have you in bondage. Now in prayer, ask God to release the stronghold that has gripped your heart. Remember these two things though:

ask in faith, believing He will do it
know that it will not be easy

God will continually work to set us free from sin and bondage, but it is our responsibility to say, "No," to sin when it raises it's head to come our way.

We must allow the Father to provide for us what our soul craves.

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." ~ Gal. 5:1

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

the story behind (in)couragers

2014-01-21T07:42:00.001-08:00

The Story Behind (in)couragers

We’d been praying for new ways to help the women of the (in)courage community connect more deeply with one another online, and the women who meet up here are the answer to that prayer! We love the idea of conversations continuing way beyond the comments on a blog post and spilling over into deep, meaningful connections.

We believe friendship can transcend time zones, cultures and blog comment boxes. And we want to connect you with friends who get where you’re at and can encourage you along the way.

From this vision the (in)couragers were born. Groups of like-minded women doing life together in small online communities began in the fall of 2012 with great excitement. And we continue to be amazed at the remarkable women who connect, encourage and champion one another in so many walks of life.

Ladies, I ask you to consider joining my group. I will, once again, lead Gateway to Joy group and we will go through Holley Armstrong Gerth new book: "If We Could Have Coffee."

Stay tune for more updates!

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

are your strongholds defeating your goals {another look at Beth Moore's book}

2014-01-19T20:34:00.001-08:00

So how are y'all doing with identifying those strongholds?

Last time we talked about what strongholds are, today let's look at where they start. Before we do through, I want to recap what strongholds are. "A stronghold is anything that exalts itself in our minds."

Yes. The battle begins in our minds first. In Beth's book, she talks about the goal of warfare as laid out in 2 Corinthians 10:5. The goal is to steal back our thought life and take it captive to Christ instead.

The reason Satan wants to attack our minds is because it is the most effective way to influence our behavior and our thinking.

HOW DO WE COMBAT THIS?

As believers we must learn to use what God has given us: our weapons, read Ephesians 6:10-18 to learn about the Christian's weapons.

Beth says, "When seeking to demolish a specific stronghold, don't just pray through the list of Scriptures once, unless you experience the rarity of immediate release without sensing any threat of relapse. Pray the Scriptures over and over until you experience lasting freedom."

Even after freedom comes, you are to pray occasionally the Scriptures that God seemed to use most powerfully.

And even more importantly, never take for granted that you are beyond a return to captivity, but do not live in inappropriate fear either.

2014 is the year that we are 'making it happen,' but before we can make anything happen we have to get rid of somethings first.

Lastly, here are some signs I've been working on. Besides 'making it happen,' in my spiritual walk. I'm trying to connect back with my creative side and make things happen in that arena too. Here is what I've been working on:

My first wood sign. I love doing these and have lots of ideas!

My water color painting: Life is a balance of holding on & letting go.

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

xo, Angela
blog subscription | twitter | facebook

are your strongholds defeating your goals?

2014-01-15T08:13:00.001-08:00

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 we are blatantly disregard what He shows us our strongholds.

Let me ask you to examine your life.

What strongholds is God showing you right now? Which ones have been gnawing at your heart and soul for a while?

Beth Moore says, "A stronghold is any argument or pretension that 'sets is itself up against the knowledge of God.' The wording in the King James Version draws a clearer image of a stronghold.
Every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

A stronghold is anything that exalts itself in our minds, "pretending" to be bigger or more powerful than our God. It steals much of our focus and causes us to feel overpowered. Controlled. Mastered.

Regardless of what our stronghold is, it is something that consumes so much of our mental and emotional energy that our abundant life is strangled--our callings remain largely unfilled and our believing lives are virtually ineffective
.
Needless-to-say, these are the enemy's precise goals for us."

Okay, now, with that being said, our goal for 2014 is still "Make It Happen," but our first goal has to be to get rid of the strongholds.

That doesn't mean not to work on any other goals, it just means that we have to first work on getting rid of the stronghold in conjunction with working on our other goals, if it is possible.

Do you have a clearer picture of what a stronghold is now? If you do, what areas have God identified to you? If you don't understand ask God to help you understand the definition and read it again, and then let Him identify to you what He wants.

Before I leave you, I want to say that the battle of a stronghold is primarily in our mind. To help us overcome our strongholds this year, we need to become familiar with our weapons. Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

Meditate on that passage. Ask God to help you with your plan of action for 2014 because this is the year that you are clamming "Make It Happen."

We will look more at our weapons and how to use them next time.

Don't forget to chart out your plan of action!

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

has your heart ever been hurt because you know you've hurt God?

2014-01-12T23:02:00.001-08:00

Serena Woods video is a must watch! Warning though, be sure to have some tissues with you because you will need it.

Looks can be so deceiving and I'm shame to say that I was shocked when I heard Serena's testimony! She doesn't look like she's been through anything that she's described. I know... what does a person who is hurt looks like? She looks like me and she looks like you.

Watching this there was a load of sorrow that over took me for Serena's childhood. The words that rang so true for me is what she says being so sorry for something that she's done because she knows how God feels about it.

Have you ever been there, sister? Can you relate? How did you handle it?

Have you done something that you're so incredibly sorry for because you know that it has hurt God?

xo, Angela

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16 beth moore ebooks free,

2014-01-08T08:12:00.001-08:00

I know you can't believe it right?!

This is such a blessings! I've been thinking since January 1, 2014 that I wanted to start the new year off by reading something from Beth Moore, but I didn't know what.

I would like to thank eChristianResources for giving Beth Moore followers such a blessing. There are so many who have financial hardships who may want a book, but simply can't afford it. So thank you eChristianResources

To get your Beth Moore ebooks, you can go to eChristianResources blog to download them.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

the Jesus project #memoryproject2014

2014-01-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

Are you good at memorizing Scripture? I can memorize it, but I've never done it purposefully. I've always learned it from just reading and re-reading passages of Scripture.

For a while now I've been feeling like something was missing. I knew year is all about me getting out of my comfort zone, that's why I'm doing the 'make it happen' series for myself this year. I'm pushing myself to use the gifts and abilities that I think God gave me to see what happens. There were are so many things that I love and am drawn to but because of fear for one reason or another I wouldn't allow myself to give into using all of my gifts and talents.

I realize that there are certainly seasons for using them, but even when I realized the season had approached I still let fear tell me, "I wasn't ready."

When I read on Ann Voskamp's blog that she was doing this project I instantly knew that this project of memorizing my Heavenly Father words is exactly what He wanted me to do.

Are you in?

Here's the details taken from Ann's blog:

Ready to Fly this year?

Here are the Details:
1. The First of Saturday of Every Month and the Second Saturday of Every Month — we will talk about our verses. Recite them. Post video of us reciting? Post the next Memory Prints for the chronological memorizing of certain verses throughout the Gospel of John. And encourage each other on!
2. More free Download “More Than Useful: He is Beautiful” Memory Prints will be posted by March 15th. So download the next set of 24 verses March 15th, Lord willing. And keep memorizing His beautiful Word.
3. We will be sharing photos of where we are hanging our “More Than Useful: He is Beautiful” Memory Prints — come over to our FB community and share photos of where you are hanging yours memory prints?
4. That little poll I mentioned? The only overwhelming response? Just about everyone wanted a way to celebrate #MemoryProject2014 …. So!? We are dreaming up ways to celebrate our community memorizing the #JesusProject this year. Maybe a T-shirt to wear? A virtual gathering? Or maybe… we are praying… maybe some kind of missional trip/experience to celebrate how prints of His Word — have been imprinted on us. Pray crazy with us?
5. THIS IS THE YEAR TO FLY! #TheJesusProject … is yours for the downloading and the flying!
Download your free “More Than Useful: He is Beautiful” Memory Prints of the Gospel of John right here:
Large Prints or the Small Prints And memorization just got a whole lot easier: Scripture Memorization for the Rest of Us. An art gallery of “More than Useful: He is Beautiful” Memory Prints –

a humble hanging of prints… God’s Word imprinted right into our being.

You can visit Ann's blog for all of the details.

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

what i'm working on, making it happen, 2014

2014-01-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

What I've been working on! I had so much pleasure working on this.

How are you making it happen in 2014?

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

making it happen, setting goals for 2014

2014-01-01T07:49:00.001-08:00

I must be truthful with you. I'm not really one who likes to sit down and write goals. I never really go back to them, and honestly, usually, I have a habit of forgetting that I've written them down. So usually I set goals mentally {and forget about many of them that way too}.

But a shift is taking place with me. I've made up my mind about many things that I'm just tired about. I am starting to see that at some point in my life, I have to take control of the part of my life that God is allowing me to control. I'm tired of having the same outcome year-after-year because I haven't worked on the goals that I have set for myself inwardly.

If you understand what I'm talking about here then I invite you to join me. There are a lot of things that surrounds me that I want to change, but I realize that nothing is ever going to change for me until I make some resolved inwardly. Therefore, in setting these goals, I want you to think and really ponder on what you want. Pray about it and see where God takes you.

So this year my goal is "make it happen."

This will be my testing ground. If I like something, regardless of who else likes it, I'm going to put it here and share! I'm getting out of my comfort zone, conquering my fears and making it happen.

That really is the only way for us to make anything happen in life. We must do it! So . . . here's what I'd like for you to do in order to get focused and make your "it" happen this year. . .

I've already started on mine, thanks to so many inspiring women bloggers and creative entrepreneurs. I'm learning that the process, the going through is just as important as the work itself!

Don't rush.

While you are thinking and pondering though, I want you to think about this:

1. What worked for you in 2013?

You may have to take some time to think about this. That's fine. Give yourself about a day or a day and a half to think about this question if you have to.

2. What lessons did you learn from what worked? Write down at least two to three lessons that you learned.

3. What did not work for you in 2013?

4. What lessons did you learn from what didn't work?

5. What lessons did you learn from what did not work? Write down at least two to three lessons that you learned from what did not work.

6. Write a summary. Let me explain.

From all that you've written down thus far about what worked, what didn't work and why, you should start to see a pattern emerging. Write what you see in a summary.

7. What vision is starting to emerge from your summary? From this lesson you should be able to formulate your vision?

8. Take your emerging vision and write down what inspires you. If you are able you can start jotting down your vision in a journal or even blog about it for inspiration. If you want to share your inspirations with others, share your inspiration through visuals by sharing it on Instagram and Pinterest.

Use the hashtag #mih2014 {that's making it happen 2014} so we can find each other.

9. Based on your vision what will you say no to this year?

10. Based on your vision what will you say yes to this year?

11. Okay, so now, review what you've written and start to write your goals for 2014. Be specific!

Lastly, remember, "The key to a well-designed life is constantly editing what works and what doesn't." Whitney English.

"Don't just think, do!" Horace

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

are you a mentally strong person?

2013-12-23T18:05:00.001-08:00

How much does mental strength play in your day-to-day activities?

Do you believe mental strength is important? Even more importantly, do you believe mental strength is just as important as physical strength and health?

I came across Cheryl Conners coloumn, that was taken from Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker and writer, who wrote an article, "Mentally Strong People: the 13 things they avoid."

This article really spoke to me because I am finding myself having to put a lot of these actions into play in my own life in order for my business to get off the ground, and for me to be sure I'm grounded just as a human being. There have been many times when I've wanted to cry and give up with my new endeavor, but crying and giving up will only get in the way, set me back, and get me off my goal so I am having to fight with everything in me to stay the course, look fear in the face and tell it to move over. I'm having to tune out the naysayers and those who don't understand what I'm doing at all.

I'm sharing these bullet points with you because I hope they will help you to continue in your endeavor regardless of the cost, and more than anything I hope you will gain more mental strength along the way.

MENTALLY STRONG PEOPLE DO NOT...

1. waste time feeling sorry for themselves. This is very important to realize. When trying to start or run a business, there really isn't time to feel sorry for yourself. Things happen to us in life. Learn from it and move on. They don't play the victim role, and rarely will you hear them say, "whoa is me." Rarely will you see them dwelling on the they've been mistreated. If anything, they are the ones who will see the glass half full and find ways to make their circumstances better.

2. take responsibility for their actions and don't sit around blaming others for where you are. Realize the part that you've played and if you don't like the outcome, then do something about it so you don't continue getting results that you don't like due to your behavior.

3. give away their power. Mentally strong people avoid giving other's the power to make them feel bad or inferior. I would like to add that mentally strong people take praise and hype with a grain of salt too because if a person has the power to make you feel good with their praises, they also have the ability to make you feel bad with their criticism. However, mentally strong people are able to see constructive criticism for what it is and take it and leave what doesn't apply to them.

4. shy away from change. They embrace change and realize what Whitney English, Creative Entrepreneur says, "The key to a well-designed life is constantly editing what works and what doesn't."

5. worry about pleasing others. Someone who is mentally strong strives for kindness and fairness; they also seek to please others when it's appropriate, but are unafraid to speak up if they have to. They can withstand the possibility of someone getting upset and know how to navigate the situation gracefully.

6. fear taking calculated risks. Taking calculated risk is very different than jumping head first into something foolish. A person who has mental strength is able to outweigh the risks and benefits and will fully assess the potential downsides, and even the worse-case scenarios before they take action.

I will share the rest of the risk after Christmas with you. For now ponder on these and examine yourself. If you find that you don't have these qualities or you have some, but not all. Start now and make 2014 the year of making it happen.... "it" being you become a mentally strong person.

And remember these two things:

1. The key to a well-designed life is constantly editing what works and what doesn't.

2. Every failure is a chance to improve.

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

are you unhappy about where you are {part 2}

2013-12-22T07:20:00.003-08:00

If you are unhappy about where you are there are a few things you can do about it. This is the second part to the first half of "are you unhappy about where you are?"

Remember, you are the only one who can change your situation, with the help of God, and that hard times aren't necessarily bad times. "Everything if given to God can be our gateway to joy," remember that.

You and I can use the hard times in our lives as motivations to stay focused, on course, and to work at getting ourselves to the place where we want to be.

Believe me, I'm learning this first hand, right alone with you.

Now. The next step for people who find themselves unhappy where they are is:

4. Be thankful. Really. Count your blessings. We all are blessed in many ways if we just stop to see it. There are so many hurting people in the world, but just because we're hurting doesn't mean we are not blessed. Although you may not be where you want to be, I bet you have a lot of things to be thankful about. Just look around.

5. Help others. We all have skills, talents and gifts that God has bestowed on us. Use those gifts and talents to help someone else.

6. Believe in yourself no matter what. Get started! Don't give up. You may have to edit a bit, but don't give up.

This is not a comprehensive list. These are just some strategies to help you get moving toward being happy where you are.

You can find this art print in my shop by going here.

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

Are you unhappy about where you are?

2013-12-21T06:07:00.002-08:00

I will be perfectly blunt with you: I am in a few situations that I don't like where they have me positioned. For a while, a few years, I had found myself complaining, complaining. After much prayer and soul searching, I realized that the only way my situation was going to change to my liking was for me to do something about it. Make it happen.

God had said, "yes," but nothing was going to happen unless I took actions in the direction I wanted to go.

Friends, are you in a situation that you don't like? Your situation could be a relationship, job, weight or anything. Have you ever thought about doing something about it? I mean really doing something-- something more than just talking about it and complaining.

Why not start planning now, today, to take real deliberate actions on changing your situation?

Make something happen.

I've talked about Whitney English the Day Planner and one of her quotes, "the key to a well-designed life is consistently editing what works and what doesn't."

{Make it happen note card designed by me}

Here are three of seven tips that Whitney gives that I've changed some to help get you moving to make things happen in your life.

1. Start by finding courage. Making a change takes lots of courage. It takes lots of courage. Why? Things get worse before they get better and you will want to give up. If you're in a spot that you just don't like, you can get out, but it's going to be a struggle.

Mayou Angelou said, "Courage is the most important virtue because without courage you can't practice any other virtues consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage."

You have to find the courage to love the struggle, lean in to it, to let it wash over you and not take you down. It can, but not if you don't let it.

2. Once you find courage and begin to lean into your situation to change it, your fear will still be there. The fear doesn't go away. Mark Twain said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face," and Ronnie Roque says, "Fear is like a prison. It can lock you up."

Once you start to lean in to your fear you can say, "I lived in this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along."

3. If you don't like where you are, imagine where you want to be and move toward that vision.

Once you move towards it, let it go. Let it go. That's why you need courage because humans are notorious at holding on to things that don't matter, and we tend to surround ourselves with people and things that reflect and embrace our status quo.

If you can, fall it love with change itself. If you can do this you will learn not to fear change. Let change be your best friend.

So there you have it friends! I will post the rest tonight for tomorrow. Remember, you don't have to be where you are if you don't want to be.

Psst... I got my wisdom tooth pulled yesterday.

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

What do you love to do and what are you good at doing?

2013-12-16T09:56:00.001-08:00

With the approaching of a new year, I've been thinking about being focused and taking inventory of where I am in relationship to what I am doing with my hands...my talents.

Before I get started in sharing my thoughts on this subject let me say that I did not forget about the Advent reading. I have been home in bed in excruciating pain from an ear infection and bad tooth. My tooth will be extracted this coming Thursday so please pray for me.

I have been laid out in bed, sometimes moaning like a lady in labor because it hurts too bad to cry. So I've been stilled and quiet on purpose. The things that I'm sharing with you today were actually scheduled to be shared with you weeks before now while we talked about Advent.

Right now I'm feeling pretty good, and I pretty much had this post laid out in draft waiting for me. So I decided today would be the day. Sorry for all of the "so."

So what do you love to do? Are you doing it?

What are you good at doing? Are you doing that?

Deep Thought abstract calendar, 2014 {designed by me}

One of my favorite Bible verses is, "Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might . . ." Ecc. 9:10

I think this should be a universal mantra or life verse.

For me, I'm seeing that regardless of what comes up in my life, if I'm doing what I love doing...even if I'm not the best at it and am learning... I find contentment and peace. I find myself being happy. Not happy because everything is going good, but happy because my heart is at rest with what I am doing, what I love to do and am good at doing or striving to become good at doing.

black & white desk calendar, 2014 {designed by me}

In preparation for this post I found this information, "In Ecclesiastes 9:10, the simple English word "do" takes on a wealth of meaning.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon defines the word as "to do, fashion, accomplish," "work, make, produce," It also means whatever you "deal with," "prepare," "use," "spend," and "bring about."

black & white desk calendar with easel, 2014 {designed by me}

Read the verse again with these words in mind: "whatsoever your hand finds to do" - accomplish-make-produce-deal with-prepare-use-spend-bring about - " do it with all your might."

Pink Haven desk calendar, 2014 {designed by me}

If you're unhappy with your life or where you are right now, maybe this is something you can examine. Don't measure yourself, necessarily, by how much money you make or don't make. Ask yourself if you are really using your God given talent?

Pink Haven calendar with easel, 2014 {designed by me}

Are you really loving what you do just for the sake of what you do?

If you're not sure about what you love to do or what you're good at, pray and ask God to show you and then ask those who know you pretty well what they think. After that begin to move toward that which you love doing and are good at.

If you already know, or have an idea, leave a comment on our FB page and share your passion and link to your blog or website if you have one. If I get enough people interested in sharing I may start a link-up here where you all can share a little about who you are and what you passion is.

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

the greatest gift, where are you? day 3

2013-12-04T05:46:00.001-08:00

"Where are you?"

I love how Ann asks this question. How she opens up the chapter with it. It certainly wasn't what I was expecting.

This question involves participation on the reader's part. I feel like she is saying to really take part in the advent of the Mesiah we need to know, where we are?

Ann says, "Our fall was, has been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives." Ouch.

Lord knows this is true of me, and sadly often times, I can feel justified in feeling this way. What about you? Where are you?

Jesus is calling for you

Where are you?

Today the writer invites us to sing a worship song or Christmas carol {or two or three}, and invite Him to come and be with you.

Here's your moment to reflect:

1. What would you say if God called out to you now, "Where are you?"

2. What does it mean to you that God seeks you out and finds you when you are far from Him?

3. What places deep within your sould do you long for the Lord to see out during this season of Advent? {excerpts taken from the greatest gift, day 3}

I invite you to take part in this unwrapping of a love story. Our story of how Jesus came to earth to save us.

Guys I've been sick. I will post day 4 later on today.

xo, Angela blog subscription | twitter | facebook

the greatest gift, day 2

2013-12-02T22:35:00.002-08:00

Yesterday, I forgot to go over the reflections of the days reading with you. Can you believe I am sick! My children seem to think it's funny because I never, ever get sick. I'm always caring for them, but now they are having to care for me.

Anyway, moving on to day 2 of the greatest gift:

Today's reading comes from Genesis 1:1-5, 26-27

Ask yourself:

"What could you create today with a gentle heart of love {a letter, a treat, a surprise}?" Then . . .

Create something out of your love.

A moment of reflection:

1. What causes you to pause in wonder?

2. What does it mean to you that you were made out of the overflow of God's love?

3. Think of three people who are not easy to love. What would it look like to love those people with God's love?

******

I would love to know what you all created or even better see pictures of it. Do me a favor please. If you are participating in reading the book or following along on the blog because you don't have the book, will you please get an Instagram account to share what your doing in pictures.

If you don't have an Instagram account and don't want to get one, will you please go to the Facebook page and load your pictures onto the blogs page and write your story for us to read and share with others like that?

If you do have a blog will you consider linking your post up to our linky so that we can go around and visit each other's blogs.?

xo, Angela

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