Boojoyful

  A good place. Have you ever said to someone,  "Sorry, I am not in a good place right now." Or maybe the flip phrase, has crossed your lips.  "Hey come on in. I'm in a good place."  One day I asked a grocery store cashier if I could pray for her. She replied, "No, I am good." The day I was writing this devotional I was in a beautiful place sitting alone by a bay of huge windows looking out over a pool. I was reading the next to the last day entry of The Passion Code  by O.S. Hawkins where he poses this challenge. "Today, fix your thoughts not on who you are, or what you are, or why you are, but on where you are." Whew! We spend lots of time pondering the first three aspects of our lives (who, what, why), but not as much on  where  we are in Christ.  I just closed my eyes and thought of places the disciples were with Jesus. Even in the storms they were good because they were with Him. John chapter 14 is so rich, so comforting, so informative....

Our pastors at a recent lake baptism where 62 people were baptized in Smith Mt Lake! Chatting with a high school girl about her summer work experience in the food industry, I asked what were some unusual things she encountered.  One was being asked by a women to announce her pregnancy in the restaurant as a surprise to her husband. The high schooler said she'd do it if she promised a good tip. 😉 Smart girl. The other was a guy giving his name for an order. He said his name was Jesus. That got me thinking. Why would someone name their child Jesus?  In the "Got Questions" article below it mentions Bible references of people who did not believe in Jesus, but tried using his name like a good luck charm. This article also addresses how we are to pray in Jesus' name. "It is in Jesus' name that God instructs us to pray (John 16:23-24).  Believers are invited to pray in Jesus' name with an expectation that God answers prayers (John 14:13-14). Praying in Jesus...

  A very dear friend from Fort Myers, Florida was watching the sunrise (in the photo below) on her lanai with her husband and sent me the photo below. A few moments later she took a photo of the clouds in the above photo. Do you see the two people?  Looks like one is kneeling at the feet of Jesus and he is laying his hand on their head. Our daughter said, "And there is a swan on the right sneaking up on them!" And a pelican on his perch. In some round about way the friend who sent these photos started reading Boojoyful over 20 years ago. Back then it went out by email. She lived at Hilton Head at the time and read where I would be visiting my sister there at her home with a group of my friends to celebrate my 50th birthday. Having never met me, just knowing me from writing about day to day life, she invited me to bring the whole group to her home for a birthday luncheon. Ever since then she has been encouraging me to keep on keeping on for the Lord. She turned 80n this year. ...

This one is always doing something that makes us chuckle. Often I reflect on how tender, yet intuitive, God has created a mother's heart. It aches for her children. We know the impact grief has on the human heart. Jesus shares in our humanity. In the olive grove called Gethsemane with Peter, James, and John the Bible describes Jesus as "deeply troubled and distressed". Mark 14:34 says he told the disciples My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death . We know He understands our heartache and suffering. John Eldredge says this about Jesus' emotions in  Restoration Year "I'm sure chipmunks made him laugh. The Pharisees sure made him furious. He felt joy, weakness, sorrow." Today, I want to thank God for how he created laughter  and the healing factors that accompany the emotion. We were filled with laughter; and sang for joy.   Psalm 126:2 NLT My husband and I laugh a lot and I pray that continues as the aging process causes the days get tougher.  ...

  Beside Still Waters on Smith Mt Lake Back in the Spring I share I sensed the Lord calling me to a new ministry called Beside Still Waters .  One of the main focuses is to give people a place to pause and be away from distractions and seek the Lord. Every night before my husband falls asleep he recites Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters . He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me...   Cody Carnes' songs "Nothing Else" and "Firm Foundation" are perfect theme songs for this ministry. "I'm not here for blessings.  Jesus you don't owe me anything...I just want you. Nothing else will do...I just want to sit here by your feet." Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it la...

This little one attending his brother's varsity high school cross country practice  and taking the challenge to run!   Revive Our Heart ministry has a wonderful variety of "Challenges" on their site. https://www.reviveourhearts.com/challenges/?srsltid=AfmBOoossotXVVhhEmHmGhAL4vrQC3MZRYvLz75MZTzjtIVoT3uUfIUy With "Back to School" upon us, I embarked on the 10 day challenge to pray for your grandchildren. One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. —Psalm 145:4 Consider sending or giving a note to your children/grandchildren.  This is what I wrote. Dear ________, With this new school year underway I am praying for all the friends you will make, the teachers you will have and the new things you will learn.   I thanked God for the love and intention he put into creating you.   He has a specific plan for your life. He rejoices over you and delights in how uniquely He made you and I do too! Today I took time to go back throu...