Boojoyful

Somehow, in previous years, I've missed the blessing of today's song, " Emmanuel" which came out seven years ago on Hannah Kerr's album called "Christmas Eve in Bethlehem." Emmanuel, God with us is actually a mind boggling concept. For today's devotional, read the lyrics below before you listen to the song and select the lyrics that give you pause. "He was not the opne we thought would come. We were looking for a King, but He didn't come in glory. The Author of the oceans and the sun , still he chose to be written in our story so He could fill our flesh and blood and we could know His love. Chorus Emmanuel, a manger for a bed, no crown upon His Head. He came like us instead. Emmanuel, He meets you where you are. He holds your heavy heart. Our God is with us all. Emmanuel, Emmanuel. It was no mistake that He arrived lost without a home, helpless as a baby.  So, if we're feeling lost in our own lives we are not along. He had felt the sa...

  Over the wing airplane photo shot of the heavens. The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. Psalm 19:1 And yesterday's verse again You have been raised with Christ.  Now set your heart on what is in heaven ,  where Christ rules at God's right side.   Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. Colossians 3:1-2 I never gave a lot of thought about what is in heaven until I read Randy Alcorn's   book,  Heaven.  At my age I admit I think about it, even long for it, a whole lot more.    As we boarded a flight recently and flew up above the clouds, I shared with my   husband how I wished God gave us an approximate earthly departure date upon our  arrival to earth.   Yes, Psalm 90:10 gives us a hint and I know God's timing is nothing like ours...  We can expect seventy years, or maybe eighty, if we are healthy, but even our best years bring t...

This screen shot is from a sorting game I play on my phone.  I'm using it to represent the four chambers of the heart and a thought challenge of what we put in our hearts. What is your heart most full of? Football, food, and family, there's been a lot of that for most people this past week. Add to that travel time for some and much needed napping for others. Then the gears switched to decorating and shopping for Christmas, which brought about the need for more napping. Where does time for Jesus to fill your heart fit in? Colossians 3:1-2 says,   You have been raised with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God's right side.  Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. Let's make a commitment to give Jesus several parts of each day in December.  Realize He is present and just waiting for the opportunity to speak to our hearts and possibly clean them up a bit.   Consider making a December journal of ...

  Chilly and snowy on the outside, but warm and welcoming on the inside of this sweet home. Well, I could just stay all day in John chapter 17 and bask in the love of Jesus' prayer to our heavenly Father. I chose the ERV translation.  Take time to read the whole thing, but verses 13-19 brought me to remember that we are called, sanctified, set apart for God's service. "I am coming to you now. But I pray these things while I am still in the world.  I say all this so that these followers can have the true happiness that I have.  I want them to be completely happy. I have given them your teaching. And the world has hated them, because they don't belong to the world, just as I don't belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world. But I am asking that you keep them safe from the Evil One . They don't belong to the world, just as I don't belong to the world.  Make them ready for your service through your truth. Your teaching is truth. I ha...

Praying Paul's prayer for you this Thanksgiving For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to   be strengthened with power through his Spirit  in your inner being, so that   Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith —that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may   have strength to comprehend with all the saints   what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and   to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge , that you may   be filled with all the fullness of God .  Now to   him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think ,  according to the power at work within us... Ephesians 3:14-20 Song "Thank You for the Cross"- Tauren Wells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj0TRkV- j4o&list=RDLj0TRkV-...

  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...