Boojoyful

  You are probably familiar with the visual of putting rocks (representing the important things in your day) in a container first and then pouring sand (the smaller more insignificant things) in last.  The other way around they wouldn't fit for the sand would fill up the jar. In a discussion with a group of friends I brought up how quickly we are to recall the negative things (let's use rocks) in our lives. The hurts, losses, betrayals, trials and the disappointments.  It saddened me that those come to mind more quickly than all the little joys (let's use grains of sand). The times of laughter, hugs, kisses, celebrations, hand holds, loved ones accomplishments, life's mile stones from first steps to first jobs. The gift of each breath we take. Opening some old photo albums I looked at happy memory after after memory. (We tend to not photograph the disappointments, but they are filed indelibly in our minds.) Taking a  glass vase I poured in 1,000's of grains of sands...

Getting side tracked can be a God thing. My detour landed me in the wisdom of Corrie ten Boom, who lived through the unimaginable horror of a Nazis concentration camp.  If you have never read  The Hiding Place , by Corrie ten Boom, put it on your family's bucket list. Clicking on this link of Corrie quotes was a blessing.   https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/40-powerful-quotes-from-corrie-ten-boom.html The first two quotes were the perfect encouragement for a several families we know facing ferocious illnesses. "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.  Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." "Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible." These next ones of Corrie's are for those of us with wounded hearts, longing for healing and restoration of relationships. "Do you know what hurts so very much? It's love.  Love is the strongest force in the w...

  The leaves are falling and some trees look bare, but not our magnolia tree.  She is producing some exotic pink fruit this time of year! Being in a study on the Psalms, the theme of loneliness quite often crosses the page. Certainly when we read of David hiding from Saul in a cave we sense those emotions.  Lawsy, Lawsy! The thought of loneliness shot my brain straight to the old Elvis song, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Opening lyrics say: "Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight? Are you sorry we drifted apart?" Do you go through seasons where you feel like you have drifted away from God? I long, yes, faint with longing to be able to enter your courtyard and come near to the Living God.  Psalm 84:2 Whether we were created to be introverts or extroverts, we have been created to be in  relationship with God and with others. Billy Graham said, "You see, man was made for God; and without God, he is lonely.  But Jesus is knocking at the door o...

  A request had come for me to photograph a group in which I was to be in the photo. Several years back I had purchased a remote control switch that allows you to take multiple shots away from the camera.  Opening the case, I realized there were no instructions.  No problem, I went to YouTube.  Yes, problem. The only instructions were videos in Japanese! Calling to my husband, I asked him to help me trouble shoot. We both laughed at the situation not understanding a word of the Japanese man.  The remote had multiple buttons so my husband began going through options.  I knelt beside the bed on which he and the camera were sitting and positioned myself in view of the camera lens. I kept saying, "Does it work now?"  The funny photo above is evidence of our success, which I've already forgotten how to do! Think of how many inventions are part of a process where the inventor is thinking, "Will it work this time?"  God never says that.  Whatever He...

  Rec league to captain on varsity. It has taken a LOT of hard work. Growing up in any area takes work. Learning is a life long process. Academically, the course load and homework requirements get a little tougher each year. Athletically, there is sweat, sore muscles and sometimes defeat. The 2025 season of fall sports is upon the Andrews grands and we are attempting to head to as many football/field hockey bleachers and cross country courses as possible.  These athletes are learning that varsity teams have a tougher training regiment than their recreational leagues and not everyone gets a trophy or a starting position. In life there are lessons to be learned in the process of living, but we don't always grow from the process.  Look back at the Israelites who grumbled and complained for 40 years on what should have been a 12 day journey. Most of my greatest lessons from the Lord, his growing me up in His ways,  have come through painful times. He tends to get more of...

Something awakened me at 3:30AM and the anxiety of things I cannot change set in. My hot water bottle of a husband was already up. About 6:20 I called to him saying I was not going to make our morning walk. I brought up that it had been several weeks since we'd done our morning prayer books for our marriage and reflected on how easy it was to get out of the habit.   He responded, "You are trying to go back to sleep, so why don't we do them tonight."  I challenged, "If I had said let's praise the Lord would you say, 'Nah let's wait?'" "Here's a compromise," I continued, "I'll keep my eyes closed and you can read the entries in both books out loud." God showed up, for what I was to read for him was what my heart needed to be reminded of. The one I was to read over him, he read to me... "Lord, I pray for Your protection on Boo's mind. Shield her from the lies of the enemy.  Help her to clearly discern between...