Knock knock knock...
Hello?
Anyone there?
Anyone?
We can't blame you if you aren't but we're trusting God that someone out there is still around. Although I haven't seen Maria, I know she is busy with family. When I caught up with Kim we were amazed at how identical the themes were in our lives.
taking us through the narrow gate.
Funny thing is, we thought we'd been there and done that. We accepted the call to serve Him no matter what. He let us both know the gates continue. This is a step up and it's more narrow than ever. The baggage called my expectations for other people is strapped on my back and I keep getting caught on the gate. God has lovingly let me know I'm not going through the narrow gate until I let the baggage go.
It. has. been. so. frustrating.
The biggest revelation God gave me was that I bring my "A" game to nearly everything I do, and I expect everyone to do the same. They probably bring their "A" game, but they don't bring mine. Imagine the frustration. Hence, the image I have of me trying to pass through the narrow way to only get caught by the things on my back.
So that's where I've been, and it's a little update on Maria and Kim, too. I'm reading a great book that I'm learning so much from. Stay tuned to learn what it is. I'll be posting notes here from time to time because the information is that good and relevant.
How about you? Can you relate to God calling you to a new, more narrow place? How are you dealing with it?
http://www.juliearduini.com
Surrendering the good, the bad, and---maybe one day---the chocolate
Julie Arduini: The Surrendered Scribe BookSneeze Review: "Big Red" Holy Bible for Children featuring 3D Art
Get this email app! Latest tweet: As I write I'm catching up on dvr watching. #theevent. Not sure what to think on this one but I keep coming back. #smallville was perfection
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Narrow Gate Still Invites
Friday, March 20, 2009
Utimate Blog Party '09: Virtual Cheese Fries and a Real Book Giveaway!
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It's party time!
So glad you're here!
We're the Narrow Gate Girls, otherwise known as Kim Zaksek, Maria Spencer and Julie Arduini. We live in NorthEast Ohio within minutes of each other. Last year we obeyed God's call to blog on deeper matters of faith.
None of us have the journey in Christ mastered, in fact, most of our blogging shows what we're learning, fighting, or re hashing a mistake or experience. Our party is different because we don't want to wear masks. What you see is what you get with us. And it's okay. In Jesus Christ we embrace that, and our hope is you embrace that fact about you, too.
We tend to get caught up analyzing what God is doing, so much so you might have to tap us at the buffet table and tell us to stop staring at the forks. We've gone out before thinking there might be a message from the Lord in the utencil area.
But we're fun, at least we think so! The rare times we get together we require one item: 
CHEESE FRIES!!!!
So please, make yourself comfortable, grab some cheese fries, ignore us lingering over the forks, and have fun. We'd love for you to visit often. You can subscribe to this blog via RSS feed or Feedblitz. You can also follow, or both! You can learn more about each of us by reading the sidebar here, and of course, through our individual posts. Feel free to invite others to visit, virtual cheese fries for all!
To make this fun for you, we have a book giveaway!
Women of Passions: Ordinary Women Serving an Extraordinary God is by our friends Jan Ross and Jeanice McDade. Maria and Julie both have work included in this book. Leave a comment on this post with a way on how to contact you if you win. We'll take comments from 12:00am March 20-11:59PM March 27. On March 28 we'll randomly pick one INTERNATIONAL entry and send a copy of this book (it's in English) to you.
Enjoy!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Kim on the Narrow Gate
A narrow gate . . . what comes to mind? A tall picket fence with a small latched opening, an old europeon style stone wall with ivy growing over the sides and an opening with an old, iron gate that creaks when you open it, or maybe an opening amidst some caves and rocks that is so narrow you have to turn sideways to travel through. How do you feel when you come to it? Are you nervous, uncertain, anxious, excited? Do you peek through first? Do you hold your breath when you pass through? Eyes open or tightly shut? Do you say a prayer before you go? Do you slowly make your way through or do you run through full speed ahead?
Narrow gates, wide openings, life's choices, they are all around us. As children and teenagers we often had to choose walking through the gate of doing what we knew was right or what 'everyone else' was doing. Do we stick up and befriend the child being picked on or do we join in? Do we stop the fight in the hallway or do we stand and watch? Do we say no to the drink, the drug, or sex or does our flesh give in? As children the decisions seemed so big, as adults how do they look now?
www.about.comOur choices and decisions as we get older continue to be challenging. Do we study and pursue a career that is true to our heart or one that others talked us into and looks appealing on the outside? Do we wait and marry for love or do we settle for another because we are afraid to be alone? Do we take a more challenging position in the work place that requires us to move and feels right or do we stay where it is comfortable and familiar? Do we leave our 'family's' church and traditions to pursue another or do we stay to keep the peace? Do we adopt an orphan or foster a child or are we too busy and 'happy' with what we have to say yes? Do we stay on the wide, smooth path or do we open the narrow gate? After all, it may creak!
The narrow gate can be scary and feel isolating. You may feel like closing your eyes, holding your breath, and running through. But have you ever passed through and experienced what is on the other side? Inner peace, joy, a sense of accomplishment, and passion to continue traveling on often awaits. Yes the path may get rocky, steep, and cumbersome at times; however, you will find others like you. You may need to call their name, reach for their hand, or sit and have lunch on a grassy spot together. You may even find a coffee shop along the way. And most importantly, there is one who will remain with you always, his name is Jesus. He will guide you, lead you, love you, and if He is calling you through a narrow gate He has already equipped you to pass through.
We invite you in. Come through the narrow gate with us and see what is on the other side!
