Boojoyful

This is a very intimate photo of my in laws when they were in their 90's and ended up in the ER at the same time.  At first they were in different sections and I would have to run between rooms to check on them. Then one of the nurses arranged for their beds to be rolled to the same area so they could hold onto one another. There's was a love and commitment that endured.  As we close out February for 2024 and this emphasis on marraige the phrase                 "Mind your marriage" came to me.  We probably all had mothers who said to us, "Mind your manners," but equally  important is that for those who are married we must be intention to keep a clear mind about our marriage and the reality that devil wants to destroy that union. So let's close out the month, praying these scriptures not only for our individual marriages, but for the institution of marriage on a whole. Lord may we be intentional to: Above all else, guard our hearts, for everything we do f

Three o'clock the day before one of our sons was to coach his son's basketball team in the semi-final and possibly championship games, he lay for 45 minutes in an MRI machine being scanned for a possible brain tumor.   He said one good thing was he had these games and all the rotation options on his   mind, so that helped the time pass.   While I knew I was not to be growing anxious, I am a mother and my mama's heart was emotionally over ruling what I know to be true of God. Also, I knew the reality of a Friday afternoon MRI meant results may not come until the following Monday or Tuesday and it could be a long weekend. Praise the Lord, he opened his MyChart before dinner Friday night and read "Normal brain!" At one point his wife asked him, "How can you be so calm?"  He said, "I believe in the sovereignty of God."    For those secure in the love of Christ, w e can lay our burdens down and remember  no  matter what earthly game plan we come up,

  It's 4:30 AM. Out our bedroom window not a star can be seen in the sky due to cloud coverage. However, across the water, up on a hill, a loan lamp post glows in the darkness, resembling the Bethlehem Star. It's reflection can be seen upon the water. There is a hymn with the lyric "In these quiet moments, Jesus speak to me. Fill my heart with Thy love divine, Your power let me see." Sometimes I go to our piano and play that over and over. In the quiet, dark moment of this particular night the Lord was bringing to mind all the things I have saved up, mostly for a rainy day, an unexpected guest or our beloved grandchildren.  For our minimalist family members, I am a nightmare. My husband and I are children of World War II veterans. Children of the depression, who knew what it meant to go without. My paternal grandmother taught me how to sew, keep a stash of fabric, thread and needles onhand and of course, you had to be a member of the clean plate club, giving thanks f

  Heart proofing/preparation Packing for a new born baby sitting gig with my husband I reminded him..."Pack a soft shirt the baby will like.  No zippers, no buttons, but also no cashmere that has to be dry cleaned, because there will be spit up. Even though it's still February, Im already thinking there will be 2 crawlers on the dock this summer. I need to check on floor mats, baby gates, umbrellas for shade and acceptable baby sunscreen to baby proof the dock. Before a successful car journey the words snacks, umbrellas, wipes, tissues, tank of gas and spare tire cross the list of preparation. Diaper Bag Proofing-bottle, pacifier, diapers, wipes, change of cloths, toy, snacks... Out the door over 60 year old proofing-phone, purse, glasses, house key, car key, water... Hmm. Do we spend as much time proofing what enters our hearts and minds as we do our earthly preparation? February Heart Quotes "It's the heart of the matter."  Paige Brown "It is impossible to

This one is always in praise mode! The devil darts were about to get me down a heavy burdens abounded this week. Turning  on the radio this song was waiting to change my focus! Praise revives us and gives us a true focus.  So, let's put on our praise! Shout praises to the  Lord !  Praise God in his temple. Praise him in heaven, his mighty fortress. Praise our God! His deeds are wonderful,  too marvelous to describe. Praise God with trumpets    and all kinds of harps. Praise him with tambourines   and dancing, with stringed instruments and woodwinds. Praise God with cymbals,   with clashing cymbals. Let every living creature praise the  Lord .    Shout praises to the  Lord ! Psalm 150 Saturday's Song "Praise the Lord" Micah Tyler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DXGozXslIg

Okay, we are a little adventureous. This is what we wore to the dermatologist. The sign says, "Your DEER friends the Andrews." February Heart Quote "Our world is constantly changing but the needs of our hearts remain the same, and so does our God's power to transform our lives and give us hope for the future."        Billy Graham Reading Billy Graham's quote the phrase "stick in the mud" came to mind, so I googled for defintions and found several:  "A person who is dull and unadventurous and resists change." "Someone who does not like to do anything new or fun." "Someone who is old-fashioned and too serious and avoids enjoyable activities." Hmm. I wonder if our children see my husband and I  as "sticks in the mud."   We are perfectly content in this house we've been in the past 25 years. We drive old cars with 150 miles or more on them. The only adventures we want to go on are the ones God cattle prods us

Our daughter with my parents who loved one another deeply. My father was a wise and gentle spirit. My mama a lively, welcoming soul.      They were a great match with a steadfast love through the trials life brings Crazy to realize they are about the ages my husband & I are now, we still think we are in our 40's. February Heart Quote   "Hot heads and cold hearts never solve anything". Billy Graham Look back to the story of Abigail, the wise wife of "hot headed" Nabal, in 1 Samuel 25. Here is a woman, who most likely didn't have a say in who she would marry. She recognized his short comings and had learned to seek the Lord for wisdom in how to handle him when situations, like the encounter with David arose. Now days, instead of spraying a can of air freshener you can buy diffusers, which disperse a sweet scent into the air.  We can be diffusers of God's grace and spew words that bring peace, calm and reconciliation into situations as Abigail so wisel

February Heart Quote "It's not the body's posture, but the heart's attitude that counts when we pray."   Billy Graham What is your attitude towards marriage?  How often do you think back on your wedding vows?  As I read today's heart quote the word cherish came to mind and that took me back to the traditonal wedding vows I said September 23, 1978.  "In the name of God, I, Linda (my legal name), take you, Deke, to be my lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death us do part. This is my solemn vow." While I love to be held by him and he has certainly stood by me in sickness , I think most women long to experience the  cherished part.  It's not really a guy word though.  They probably don't go into a marriage asking, "Will you cherish me?" Feed me, keep the home welcoming for me, have sex with me, help r

 February Heart Quote "Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year. It brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul."  Billy Graham The farmer works hard for that harvest. Likewise, love requires selfless work, but the end result of shared years together is worth the work. What are some creepers that crawl in, you know, worm their way into a marriage unsuspectedly, and then you realize there is a big hole? Career goals, parenting exhaustion, health issues bringing fear and fatigue, along with the biggie "Expectations!"   "My family does it this way."  "We need to chart out a 50-50 split of chores and  responsibilities." Then comes, "You owe me. I did more yesterday." When we begin to sound like a singer warming up to sing by vocalizing "Me, me, me" there is disappointment on the horizon or even possibly a hurricane stirring in the harbor. Today's song carries this lyric. "Your name is p

It was one of those middle of the night encounters with God. The word was wedge  and my first image was that of a doorstop at our church I had used to leave a crack in the door so someone could get in because I couldn't figure out how to unlock the door. Whew wee!  It only takes a crack for temptation and sin to creep into our lives and corrupt our hearts that are meant for God.  Think about King David, "A man after God's heart." It only took a glance from a rooftop to lead to horrible sin and deadly destruction. A glance.  Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Psalm 119:37 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.   Matthew 5:28  (The same for a woman lusting for a man.) February Heart Verse "The very practice of reading the Bible will have a purifying effect upon your mind and heart.  Let nothing take the place of this daily exercise."

February Heart Quote "Two conflicitng forces cannot existt in one human heart. When doubt reigns, faith cannot abide. Where hatred rules, love is crowded out. Whewre selfishisness rules, there love cannot dwell.  When worry is present, trust cannot drowd its way in."           Billy Graham The Song  “You Do for Love” Danny Gokey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18SzK_Mz8bc

  February Heart Quote "Prayer is crucial in evangelism: Only God can change the human heart of someone who is in rebellion against Him.  No matter how logical our arguments or how fervent our appeals, our words will accomplish nothing unless God's Spirit prepares the way." Billy Graham Prayer is also crucial for marraige to flourish. There are several things I would change in how I have carried out my wifely role, but a biggie is I regret using my husband as a dumping group expecting him to have a solution to everything from that would come across my day. If there were hurts by girlfriends or family members, frustrations with the children or the schools they attended, car or house issues, wants and desires, I would just pick up the phone and call him first.  Never did I think he was enduring his own boatload of issues at work.  I've learned that if I call upon my heavenly Father first he can lead me to resolutions without ever burdening my husband.  There is a quirky

  February Heart Quote A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord.  Thank God in the midst of trials and every persecution.        Billy Graham The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him .  Psalm 28:7 How many times did you say "Thank You" to God or someone else yesterday? The past year with this knee issue and a few other little health snafus I have had to ask for help more than my pride would like. I enjoy serving, espeically when it comes to church and fun activities for our grandchildren.  My husband has worked so selflessly to help me pull off holiday decor and baking and birthday fun like treasure hunts. I think I have asked "Would you...?" many more times than said, "Thank You, or how can I help you?" Like in the post, where the wife got to the point she could thank God for the trial in he

  Three women in my life with BIG hearts and lots of wisdom. It's blessing to be with them. Did you send your little one off to school with a bag full of Valenintes to pass out to his friends today?  Are you wishing you had given your preschooler a 3 letter name instead of a 10 letter one because he had to practice writing it by printing it out on all 30 Valentines for the other four year olds at school? Maybe you are like me and looking forward to an after Valeninte's Day floral bouquet or box of heart chocolates that are half off, because it feels so good to get a deal.  (Spoiler alert...In reality, things are just back to the regular price and not jacked up.) The past couple weeks I've carried heart shaped stones around in my pocket and looked for opporunties to place one in someone's hand and say, "Put this somewhere that you will come across it occasionally and when you do remember two things..."God loves you and I do too!" Total strangers eyes have

February Heart Quote "Jesus had a humble heart. If He abides in us, pride will never dominate our lives."  Billy Graham Verse Isaiah 43:19  Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wife I mentioned, who had been decieved by her husband yet chose forgiveness and to begin a prayerful process towards trust in her spouse once again, wrote to me saying, " God is working in ways that only He can.”    What happened will probably always lurk in the back of her mind, like a death does, but we learn in Romans 5:3-5 suffering has purpose. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.   This makes me think of the joy that comes after the

Galatians 5:19   Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, but because of immoralities each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. Have you read the story of the woman at the well whom Jesus asked for a drink in John 4. She is a Samaritan (not friends with Jews) who has had 5 husbands and is living with a man who is not her husband. Having never met Jesus he reveals he knows all this about her and what she really needs to satisfy her longings. It's a beautiful story of forgiveness, restoration and freedom. Have you stood in the grocery store and heard over the loud speaker "Clean up on aisle 4!"  God probably sends out a similar conviction alert each day "Clean up in Boo's heart!"  and the Holy Spirit moves with helpful conviction towards the ongoing mopping up and restoration process in my life. Forgiveness and restoration are ongoing key elements to a successful marriage.  Thinkin

Our daughter's family took a trip to NYC and visited my husband's younger brother. She found the perfect song for the trip! The Song "Garden in Manhattan" Josiah Queen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTdds9-2K5c  

This four year old granddaughter knows how to live life! Stepping in today to share thoughts from the last week of the Abigail study my connect group completed.  The lessons certainly can apply to marraiges. "The Big Idea: God often uses difficult circumstances in your life to make you more like Jesus." Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire.  Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return.                       1 Peter 4:12-13 Wolgemuth teaches "When treated badly, we often go to extremes as well.  Sometimes we lash out in anger, which can have disastrous results.  Or instead of dealing openly with the issues, we remain silent and allow bitterness to develop in our hearts." Hmm. I've been guilty of both scenarios! Here's a good "Paul prayer" for us.  I pray that your love will keep on