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Increase My Joy

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  We gifted these two grands with magnetic buddy socks! These smiles increased my joy. God has lots to say about JOY in his Word ! "The joy of the Lord is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10 Years ago, 1994, I read an excellent take on where our joy comes from by John Piper. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/where-does-joy-come-from Nibble on what Piper says here: "What is extraordinary about Paul is how unbelievably durable his joy was when things weren’t going well. For example:   “I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction ” ( 2 Corinthians 7:4 ). Or “ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake ” ( Colossians 1:24 ). Where did this come from? First of all it was taught by Jesus: “Blessed are you when men hate you ...   Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven ” ( Luke 6:22-23 ). Troubles for Jesus compound your interest in heaven—which last a lot longer than earth." Real joy comes from the love God has poured out over...
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The Dance of Grief and Gratitude

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This was the view from a pew during the beautiful celebration of life service for a friend's beloved father. Sweet Friends,  This devotional below came in my inbox via FaithGateway and is so powerful.  Way too many of you are dealing with deep grief in a variety of forms or praying for loved ones walking in grief. For some of you this is the first holiday season without a beloved person for various reasons and that comes with so many longings. Every Christmas I long for my Daddy to let me help him once again put the silver tinsel on the tree…one piece at a time😂🎄 There is a healing challenge at the end of this devotional. I am praying that this brings you  comfort. Reading this will make some of you sob, but Jesus will grab your tears and put them in a bottle. You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.   You have recorded each one in your book.  Psalm 56:8 Love and prayers, Boo The Dance of Grief and Grati...
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The Sky is God's Tent for the Sun

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The Shiloh heron is contemplating winter. He hangs out here everyday. Recapping a day of Community Bible study I emailed this to the women in my core group, whom I call the "Sweet Psalmsters ."  Your sharing truths and things God has revealed in Psalms 19 and 139 was a blessing to us all.   I’ve never thought of the sky as a big blue tent for the sun, but I will always see it that way now. It is impossible for us to comprehend the vastness of Creation. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun... Psalm 19:14 "Their" is referencing the two things that speak to the greatness of God. The heavens (Creation) declare the glory of God, while the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.  Both are silent testimonies. No megaphone or microphone needed. If you don't come to know God through his Word, then creation alone speaks to how majestic He is! As for the nearness of God, listen t...
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Hit Pause

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My CBS mug shot. Do you bargain with God? I find myself doing this when shopping, even at Dollar General.  "Lord, if you approve of this purchase have it be under $10." Then I look at the tag. 🤣 Well, I've been doing that with posting these devotionals.  The morning I was writing this I had just tossed and turned a lot during the night attempting to justify an exit plan or at least hit the pause button on Boojoyful through the holidays. When I was honest about why I wanted to quit, the reasons were all about me. Fear of what others think was at the top of the list and a concern of being tracked was another.  In 26 years of writing I'd never thought about who was reading, with the exception of close friends who email or text about something I've said.  I didn't even know you could see where your readers were from and when I saw the chart listing the USA in 4th place of where the Boojoyful readers are located that made me leery.  With my exit speech laid out I ...
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Guess Who's Coming? Be sure to RSVP

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  People for centuries have tried to figure out how to get to God.  Christianity differentiates itself from all the other religions in the world in that it doesn't require human effort to get to God, but it's the grace of God coming to us. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him."  Revelation 3:20 God not only comes to us with an invitation, he has formatted a way to be with us; for us; and in us.  We just have to RSVP with a "yes." God with us.   And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:12 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23 God for us. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.  Exodus 14:14 God in us.  You, are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't...
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Facing Your Giants

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Proud of #2 for being ready to step in and lead his team to victory last Sunday. Excited for these two young leaders to be named captains next year! “Your giant wakes you up with words of worry and talks more trash than what you   hear on the basketball court.... Face your giants you stumble. Focus on God your giants tumble."   Max  Lucado In the 14 munute video below  (instead of a song today)    Lucado teaches that David took five stones with him to face Goliath. #1 Stone of remembering the past.            David remembered the strength God had given him  against lions and bear.   Remember his miracles and all his wonders and his fair decisions. I Chronicles 16:12 #2 Stone of Prayer Be good to me, God- and now I’ve run to you for dear life. I’m hiding out under your wings until the hurricane blows over. I call out to High God-the God who holds me together . Psalm 57:1-2 God will keep in perfect peace all ...
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First Things First

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  Thank you to the women in our church who cooked and set up for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast to feed our SENTry group as they gathered to sign up to bring "Christmas Joy" to children in our county. This is coordinated by our Sheriff's Department. Our phones can suck the life out of us. While they are a great convenience, they also are an enormous distraction and temptation. I don't even want to go down that rabbit hole with that discussion. Most days, I start by saying "Good morning Lord, what's in store for today?" But before I listen to Him, I grab my phone and check my messages before posting "Boojoyful."  The intent after that is to turn on praise music and start my Jesus time, but dang that phone can grab my attention and the next thing I know an hour has passed. On this particular day there was only one urgent message to attend to and I quickly went to praise music and there was my much needed reminder in the song title "First Thi...
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