Journey's by Grace: Journey Through a Narrow Gate in Search of a Pearl

By Joyce Duchess El

One day the Duchess is at the helm of planning an charitable event, the next she is trekking to dangerous territories to bring global spotlight to global issues. In the afternoon she is visiting the childrens hospital and reading stories, that evening she is conducting a Lifeline meeting at a substance abuse or domestic violence center. On Sunday mornings, Duchess is praying and praising God. Afterwards she is racing off to a radio station to broadcast her program Journeys By Grace with Duchess.

The local community has given her the name of Duchess because of her compassion for others; because she will stand with you during the challenges of life. She is a MISSION OF COMPASSION.

Duchess believes that it is possible just maybe one person will be touched by your story or your human touch and the course of their life can be changed to take their journey by grace.

Duchess resides in Bradenton, Florida where she is pursuing a degree in Mass Communication with a minor in Law.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499008623

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Joyce Duchess El.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2014907750

ISBN:     Hardcover      978-1-4990-0865-4

               Softcover       978-1-4990-0866-1

               eBook            978-1-4990-0862-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Rev. date: 02/26/2015

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Contents

Dedication

Foreword by Ernst Lubin

Introduction

Author’s Note

1. The Parables

2. The Entry

3. The Choice and the Angel

4. An Angel

5. Humbleness and Quietness

6. The Valley Experience

7. A Broken Gate

8. Walking Sideways

9. Participating in Your Miracle

10. Transformation of the Mind

11. The Gate to a House

12. The Children

13. The Wide Gate

14. The Chapel

15. Is there Not a Cause?

16. The Parable Treasure and Pearl

17. The Exit of the Narrow Gate

Acknowledgements

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my mothers: Muriel Clark and Ann Tucker.

Muriel Clark for her demonstration of the strength of a woman, and planting the seed of God deep within me. I thank my mother for being a strong woman for she kept her children together and ensured that we were grounded. I know that I am a strong woman because of her dedication and love.

God blessed me with a spiritual mother and angel, Ann Tucker, who has inspired me, worked along with me, listened to my revolting stories and helped me to understand the Word in action.

This book is also in Honor of Michael Alejo and Michael Franks—God gave you each a message just for me!

I thank God first for giving me vision and favor to be able to write this book in honor of my grandchildren as I build a legacy for them that will honor God and the field of missions.

Thanks to my leaders, Pastor James Murphy Jr, and Bishop Raymond D. Trice, Sr.

Love to my team, Taylor Keith Monarch Group, Gwen Robison & Tonya Campbell, and Catherine Snowman. Thanks to Miranda Reese for reading through the manuscript, and making corrections as she tried to understand my flow! Michael Spafford, my friend, for the beautiful photography.

Love and dedication to my granddaughter LaShayna and my niece Nessa my greatest fans and cheerleaders! Love to all my grandchildren and to all the children that I minister to.

To Carolyn and the ladies at Inner Spirit Recovery Home… I pressed so that I could be a lifeline to you.

And the deepest love and gratitude is for my Associate Producers—Tab Brown & MC Robert Tucker, Jr. You are my teachers and motivators. You are Journey’s By Grace.

Thanks for all my supporters and fans worldwide.

—Duchess

Foreword

by Ernst Lubin

T here is so much I want to say about the book, Journey’s By Grace: Journey Through A Narrow Gate In Search of A Pearl , but I might just get up and start writing my own book about myself. I am going to try to contain and limit my review to a page.

This book is genuine, transparent and dynamic and that’s just a few of the millions of words to express my thoughts. I can say it truly is one of a kind and I am an avid book reader.

It took me on a journey that I did not want to end. It made me cry and laugh at the same time. It took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions that I had never experience. I will love more because of this book.

My favorite journey and I will assume will be everyone favorite is the Valley Experience. I can’t wait for this book to hit the shelves so I can get my copy and copies for my love ones. Thank You Joyce!

—Ernst Lubin

Introduction

I once heard that no person can walk out of his own story. I also believe that you must take a step to walk into your own journey. I believe that you are the executive producer of your life.

This book is written to inspire you to take a journey and face your fears, encourage you to move your feet, to change yourself; your attitude and explore the adventures of life. It will take faith, energy, spirit, love and most of all trust in God to bring you through your journey.

The question is, are you ready to take a journey with me? It is my desire that you will be enlightened, encouraged, laugh and feel motivated to trust God enough to take your own journey toward personal transformation and find a deeper meaning to the word LIFE.

Now my Beloved, find a starting point with me, yours maybe—a wall, Red Sea, job experience, homelessness, unemployment, prison, lack, mental illness, addictions, relationship issues, promotion, celebration, an engagement, new job, new home, family or just a new thing.

I will use a metaphor the gate as my starting point for the journey on a narrow path, and the parables field & pearl. Which gate are you standing in front of in your life? Why are so few are willing to enter through the narrow gate?

If there is a treasure, why do only a few find it?

I think this is a good, valid question. Why do only few find it? Has God hidden it? Is it only for the privileged few?

I don’t think so, especially here in the U.S., where access to the good news of Jesus is unparalleled anywhere else on earth. But I do think there are a number of reasons why few people find it, and we’re going to look at a few of these in a moment.

But I want to