Boojoyful

  The green of spring is back and it's beautiful. If the pollen count is too high, I'm guessing you still have some masks around. Take time this last Saturday in April to get out in God's glorious spring creation and turn up the song "Christ Be Magnified" and glorify His name.  Consider   the   lilies  of  the  field, how  the y grow:  the y neither toil nor spin . Matthew 6:28 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,   making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.   Ephesians 5:15-16 The Song  "Christ Be Magnified" by Cody Carnes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjGMlYywK9M

Not sure if he was kissing or whispering, but we got caught either way.                                                                                                A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.  Proverbs 16:28 Oooh, whispers get me riled and often they aren't even filled with evil intent, but hurt occurs simply through the action of whispering. It creates a feeling of being left out. My husband has a great tale from his elementary PE teaching days where he caught a girl, who could be pretty cruel, whispering in class to a boy she usually treated badly. My husband felt certain her comment was against him, so in front of the class he inquired of the young man, "Why don't you tell the rest of the class what Sally whispered to you?" (Not her real name.) The boy thought quickly and wisely, "She said you are the best teacher she has ever had!"  LOL Hopefully he was able to hold that over Sally the rest of the year. Las

Hmm, something is not adding up for this 3 year old. Elation set in for our grandson when this cute bunny character walked into a venue where we were dying eggs. He ran straight to the soft plush rabbit, wrapped his arms around her and then notice some human eyeballs behind the screen covered eyes and stepped back.  His next move was to reach for the head and try to rip it off exposing the fraudulent creature.  Mama Boo moved to the bunny's rescue and tried to explain to our grandson this was a dress up character and we shouldn't disassemble her.  Don't simply believe what you see or read. The deception that surrounds us is of an unimaginable magnitude. We have a few friends whose careers place them in the public lime light and I've been shocked at the outright lies that are printed about these individuals.  There is no accountability when it comes to the press and social media.  Be intentional to train up yourself and your family to have skills for discerning truth and

  Can you read the fine print above? " I will walk worthy of my calling."      In order to keep up with some of our children's lives we have to tune into Instagram to catch the action and fun photos and videos. It has taken me a while to grasp that this means I am going to see a whirlwind of ads and the unsolicited going ons of other people's lives as well.  For some reason it seems that daily a "reel" of Prince William and his wife, Kate, pops up.  From appearances, one would deduce that she has taken to the calling of  being a  princess  very well. Do we walk like the royalty we are?  Children of the King! Somewhere I saw this post of the words Priscilla Shirer prays over her sons daily. You Will You will be a man of integrity, character and honesty. You will love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your  strength. You will put on the full armor of God so that you can stand first against the schemes of the devil. You will be the

Growing up, my grandparents wintered in Florida and then when my father retired he and my mother followed suit.  This is a vintage postcard of "The Church By the Sea" which they attended.   Maybe sitting in church made you squirm or you had to wear a crinoline that scratched.  Possibly the preacher had a slow monotone voice that gave you heavy lids.  Even worse, maybe those sermons made you feel like that man in the pulpit knew more about what you'd done Saturday night than you wanted anyone to know, so as soon as you moved out from under momma's church going demanding hand you quickly quit going and got some much needed sleep on Sunday morning. Did COVID disrupt your church going routine and you find it's just simpler to sit in front of your phone or computer and catch a service in your pajamas while eating pancakes?  Gathering together to worship the Lord is part of his plan for us. He has created us to be relational people and we benefit from coming together to

The goal this particular day was to present my husband with an impressive lunch! I can't remember where this Sarah Young entry popped up, but it was a much needed reading by me. "Talk to Me about every aspect of your day, including feelings.  Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with Me .  A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day.  Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to Me."  "Pray continually. " 1 Thessalonians 5:17 It is so easy to get sucked into a day without a thought about Jesus.  The world clammers for us. We can turn off our phones, but the laundry, the meals, the cleaning and yard work in themselves reverberate with their daily demands, but we can sprinkle Jesus into all those activit

Scrolling through my PrayerMate app I was amazed at how many of the requests related to scenarios where people feel as if there is no way out of the situation surrounding them. Addictions, homosexuality, employment environments or unemployment, abusive marriages or caregivers, dementia, infidelity, extreme debt, cancer diagnosis, war ravishing their homeland, loss of a spouse or child, infertility and parents of children who committed suicide. Others are caught in debt, cult activity, and long kept lies that hold them captive. Sometimes we feel it is easier to stay stuck than take the steps necessary to get to the other side.  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 One of my very favorite verses showing the  compassionate caring and power of who God is is found in  Jeremiah 33

NY city sky scraper workers on a lunch break in 1932 and 2011 What is the most dramatic "before and after" transformation you have seen?  Is it a home renovation project, a hairstyle change, weight loss pictures, or maybe a life before and after coming to know Jesus?  As you watch the video below my guess is you may flash back to encounters in your own life similar to the ones portrayed.  Instead of keeping a magic hat (see the video) by our side, let's place Bibles in prominent places...your car, your kitchen, bedroom, living room and your place of work. When the going gets tough, grab for the gusto of God! Put these four verses in an easy to access or daily visible place as a reminder of the transformation that has occurred in your life because of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Ezekiel 36:26 – And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. A

Sunday, 11 people were baptized at our church. I don' think there was a dry eye for anyone who knows this sweet woman when she came forward. She had struggled with infertility and miscarriages for several years before finally becoming pregnant. Just a few weeks before the delivery date, her baby died in utero. Through the love and outreach of several of her work colleagues from our church, this unchurched woman and her husband came to visit one week back in December and have been at church every week since.  Ugh, I'm crying now.  In her hand is a picture of the baby she lost. She wanted to hold onto the memory of that sweet girl as she was baptized, knowing they will be together again one day. God is our refuge and strength,  a very present   help in trouble. 2  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3  though its waters roar and foam,  though the mountains tremble at its swellin g. Psalm 46:1-3   Take 6 m

Rough seas from the Gulf of Mexico make for great kite surfing. Washed up critters from the Atlantic Ocean make for great beach finds. How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.   Ephesians 3:18 It is spring break here in Franklin County and many people have headed for the seashore. God is a Sea of limitless love and forgiveness. He is a Sea of acceptance and mercy. He is a Sea of strength and comfort. Like the ocean, we  love His power and fear His power.  Author Kay Swatkowski  wrote, relating to her in assessment of God as a sea. ..  “Strangely, I am tempted to keep a safe distance, I may roll up my cuffs and walk the shore of His love, but I avoid the depths.  I am drawn to the Sea of God’s love, but am also tied to the shore of my own doubts, fears, anxiety, and misconceptions…on the shore I build sandcastles that are so easily washed away.”  Take the plunge and dive into the sea of God's love and adventure for your life. I wrote this prayer for our grandchildr

So teach us to number our days  that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 We were created to walk in fellowship with God, discovering the mysteries and delights He has scattered throughout creation, but how often to we sit in that enjoyment?  We have a grandson who has taught me the beauty of doing this.  He will come in our bedroom early in the morning, turn a chair to a window that looks over the expanse of our yard and the lake leading out to the main channel. In amazement he will say, "Mama Boo!  Come look at this bird!  Oh, look!  The blue heron is on the dock!" Oh, Father, teach me to number the hours in each day and be sure some are spent simply in amazement of who You are and what you have created.  In Jesus name, Amen. Dr. Leslie Weatherhead calculated the average length of a  life by using the hours of one day to illustrate the importance of recognizing the value of time.  At 65 years of age, it gave me pause. "If your age is 15, the time is 10:25 a.m. If

May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us. 1 Kings 8:57 It was 4AM, my husband was still in bed, which is very unusual. My mind wandered to all that we had to do being Easter Sunday and then I realized...it's April 18th, the Monday after Resurrection Sunday.  We had already made it through the big day. Like a wedding, the months of preparation were behind us and the event was over in a flash and I was hardly present in the moment for rushing from one thing to the next.   As my husband awakened I said, "We didn't take in a moment.  We never sat all day and shared a family meal. I didn't even get a picture with our daughter and I was actually wearing make up. The music, the sermon, the baptisms...I missed it all. It was 10 PM when I turned on the computer and was able to watch the service."  As my heart was saddening the Lord whispered, "But you were with Me. You and your daughter taught the 4-5th Sunday scho

A friend sent this photo from the beach of a cross covered in flowers showing how God took something ugly and cruel and made it beautiful and a blessing for us all. From Artist Anne Neilson   Hallelujah! It's Resurrection Day! He is alive! Praise the Lord today and forevermore! Today is a time to remember that  we too can experience rebirth, renewal and resurrection because of Jesus. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.   Matthew 28:5-6 The Songs " Christ the Lord is Risen Today" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9khJXoL9QGk Resurrection Power https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxH8Q8ue65o

  The dogwood is the state flower of Missouri, North Carolina and Virginia When my father retired my parents decided to winter in Florida, but my daddy's goal was to always be back in Virginia as the dogwood trees began to bloom! This Easter we will be taking pictures by a couple of our dogwoods.   Below is the legend of the dogwood tree.  There is a very short video that tells the story, as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucpoorXRMog "The story begins almost two thousand years ago in Israel. If you ventured into the forests of Israel at that time, you would have seen plenty of sturdy oaks, lofty cedars, walnut trees, and more—all of which are fine and noble trees, loved and used by carpenters. However, one tree was prized above all others: the mighty Dogwood. Back then, the Dogwood lacked its distinct fruits and flowers, but it was still impressive, rising taller than any oak or cedar. Its wood was strong, hard, fine-grained, and easy to work with. It had no equal, an

  As I shared Monday conflict, unkindness, cruelty, and suffering are areas I prefer to avoid, but in the Holy Week devotional montage I referenced  listen to how they describe the necessity of suffering. "The only Savior who truly saves, only saves through suffering. The cross was the only means of making us sinners right before a holy God. Our salvation was purchased with suffering, and it will be sealed and preserved with suffering (James 1:2–4), not comfort. We are promised comfort in the Christian life  (2 Cor. 1:4), but not the cheap, temporal imitation we’ve grown accustomed to in our modern world. If we come to the crucified one expecting him to make life easier and more comfortable, we’re not listening to him. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). The disciples certainly imagined there would be opposition in Jerusalem, but not like this. They expected a hostile takeover—and that did happen—but

  When your mother is a talented interior designer you score big time on hats for your school's                Easter bonnet parade! I want one! We had some extra Easter activity handouts from church last week that included jelly beans and a special lollipop.  I decided to go into our local grocery store today, which was packed, and find mothers and grandmothers to be the recipients of these fun packets. I had a blast!!!!  I asked one older woman if she had any grandchildren coming for Easter and she said, "Yes, I have five."  When I explained to her what I had she said, "I was just telling my husband this week that it's a shame you never hear anyone talking about Easter anymore. Thank you, thank you." I said, "We need to tell the world about Jesus."  She replied, "Amen! Yes, we do."   And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14  

These two know each other soooo well! Why wouldn't you love Jesus?  What does it cost you to follow Him?  I struggle with understanding what others see as a threat or weakness in belonging to Christ, because of how much I love Him and how much more peaceful my life is with Him. It reminds me of when I try to get the grandchildren to eat I find myself saying,,,'How could you not like strawberries, raspberries or cheesecake?  If you'd just try it!" Occasionally, in a group Bible study people will get hung up on having to understand what a parable or teaching really means and End Times discussions on millennialism, premillennialism and dispensationalism really can get eyes rolling and frustrations flying.  We do not have to understand all the ways of God to believe. It's a good thing He is unbelievable. That makes him God! Excerpts from  The Truth and Beauty  by Andrews Klavan "My deepened relationship with God augmented my talent for living....Accepting Christ h

Teddy Scott & Scottie Scheffler at  The Masters  There are many people who find the sports world repulsive, so before they shut me out and stand in judgement, I hope they hear me out. Sports, just like the arts and sciences, have offered individuals escapes from tragic home lives and provided education and employment opportunities that may not have come otherwise. God has created us all uniquely with gifts and talents and with a propensity to find enjoyment in a wide spectrum of activities.  Hopefully, these avenues lead us to the Lord! My knowledge of the golfing world is VERY limited.  I've never played the game and find no enjoyment in Putt Putt. In an attempt to keep my post cardiac ablation husband calm, I watched two days of The Masters with him.  Let the Googling begin!  We learned a lot about tournament rules and the Augusta National Country club's secret membership list! The only player we had much background knowledge on was Tiger Woods. Scottie Scheffler, a 25 ye

  Truth be told I am a Hallmark girl all the way. I'm perfectly satisfied knowing in the first two minutes that the girl is going to get the nice guy. Conflict, hatefulness, lies, deceit or caddy conspiring women do not bring me joy. In the same frame the remembrance of Holy Week makes me want to turn away from the story.  Let's just go from palm branches to the resurrection. As our pastor was describing the crucifixion yesterday, I leaned to my post surgery husband, who was watching online at home with me and said, "I think I'll go take a shower and come back for the happy part." I'm reading a compilation of Holy Week devotionals by various authors that really make you think. Below is the link for the whole week, but I will share some highlights. https://document.desiringgod.org/your-sorrow-will-turn-to-joy-en.pdf?ts=1457392245 Monday The sun rises just before 6:30 a.m. in Bethany, the small village on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives, just a mil

Flash back to 2013 when a group of us studied about Gideon. My end of class gift to them was a torch! The day before my husband's cardiac ablation we were both a bit anxious. We hadn't shared about the surgery, because we had so many ducks to get in a row at church for Palm Sunday and Easter.  The night before we'd gathered acres of sticks which had blown down from the recent storms, so he could mow the lawn. We'd put fresh sheets on the bed to welcome us back home and I had cleaned out the refrigerator in case we had to stay more than the proposed one night at the hospital. Before he left for work we snuggled a bit, went over the checklist for an event at church that day and shared in a time of prayer.  As we began praying he said, "I just finished the passage in my read through the Bible outline and in Job 6 I read:  You are safe. Do not fear. You shall not die.   Is that a day before surgery gift or what?  Truly, a peace came over each of us. Hone in on verses 8