Boojoyful

James 1:19-21 19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. I failed the test, my guard was down I was in reaction mode and pulled the trigger (my tongue) quickly and precious people were wounded in the battled that ensued. Today's verse for the day on www.biblegateway.com is 1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”- Now the mission is to seek forgiveness and bind up the broken hearted; finding my strength to do so in the Lord and God gets the glory for the great things...

October 30 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 John Piper lists 12 Sins We Blame On Others 1) Anger I wouldn’t lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more considerate. 2) Impatience I would be a very patient person if it weren’t for traffic jams and long lines in the grocery store. If I didn’t have so many things to do, and if the people around me weren’t so slow, I would never become impatient! 3) Lust I would have a pure mind if there weren’t so many sensual images in our culture. 4) Anxiety I wouldn’t worry about the future if my life were just a little more secure—if I had more money, and no health problems. 5) Sp...

October 29 Walking in the house after work yesterday I was drawn to the piano. I tend to tinkle with those ivories when I am either elated or distraught; subconsciously, (because by faith I am joyful always) I believe I was distraught over this election. Come Tuesday, I feel we are in a no win situation as a nation and I pray the body of Christ is prepared to act as what we are called to be. Back to the piano...I had a long list of "to do's " but it just seemed right to sing to the Lord. My daughter gave me The Christian Life Hymnal a couple years ago. Randomly flipping it open, the pages fell upon Onward Christian Soldiers. The title of that section in the hymnal is Loyalty and Courage. Wait, it gets better! Kind of in shock that God knew where my heart was at that moment, better than I did myself, I challenged Him to another flip. I was blown away for I didn't even realize this hymnal had a section called National Hymns and there before me was America the Beautiful...

October 28 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 We've all watched the thrills, chills and tremblings of a beauty queen when that crown is placed upon their head! Can you imagine what it will be like for those who love the Lord, when the crown of life is placed on our heads? At first glance one could read this verse and think "If I tough it out, I will be rewarded for my persevering." I go back to Ephesians and believe our "free gift" salvation is the greatest gift we receive and it is due to nothing we have done, but available because of what Christ did for us. The end of this verse relates the real requirement.... because I love Christ and trust in him there will be another gift for me. A crown of life placed on my head and the heads of all my brothers and sisters in Christ. Hmm , wonder if we are to wear those things everyd...

October 27 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant: its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. James 1:9-11 Things are not always as they seem. The poor may feel like they are weighted down, on the ground side of a see saw, when in reality, if they are trusting in the Lord the richness of their faith puts them on top. The wealthy, who think they are riding high, without Christ, become humbled when they realize the blood of Jesus cannot be bought. While they are in pursuit of material things, the brevity of life and the opportunity to store up treasures of eternal value are racing by. A vocabulary for my students this week is vague: not clearly expressed or understood. The message of salvation is...

October 25th If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be give to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8 Doubt :to lack confidence in. (Merriam-Webster) Double-minded - to be unstable and lack conviction in one's beliefs; to change loyalties or ideas. A person full of hypocrisy; one who uses truth and lies in whatever situation to benefit themselves in one way. (From www.seekgod.ca ) The disciples were right there hanging out with Jesus and they experienced doubt at times. In the last month have you worried about finances or your health? Does Jesus bash us when we waiver and say we have no faith? Nope, he is gentle and says, "Oh, you of little faith." ...

October 24 Dang, I never know where the Lord is taking me. Life with Him is like the TV show Survivor...a new challenge or adventure every day. I am beginning a study with my students on Randy Alcorn's book Heaven for Kids (The adult version is just called Heaven. I am feeling pulled to the book of James as well, so just hold on with me and we shall see where it all leads! We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Phil. 3:20 Well that is a big AMEN right there. How about coming back before this county falls apart? Uh, but there are so many I love who are not ready to enter into Your presence. Then I read how James begins his book.... James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Studying the NIV Women of Faith Bible I read: According to James, if we truly believe what Jesus says, we will show it by living godly lives. To merely say we have faith is insufficient. Living in faith shoul...

October 23 Blackaby finishes this study on When God Speaks by looking at God speaking through the church. As the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ...the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,' is it therefore not of the body?...if they were all one member, where would the body be? 1 Cor. 12:12, 14-15, 19) He emphasizes how disharmony keeps the Holy Spirit from doing a mighty work in churches. "If God is going to redeem our world, it will be after He has restored His body, the church, to wholeness and effectiveness with each member functioning under the head as God has placed them in the body." Let's Pray : Lord, with You all things are possible and we need to live like we believe that. We need to tell of Your faithfulness to generation after generation. Please Father, let revival start in each of our hearts, spreading ...

October 21/22 For the past two days I have been rushed and in a writing rut. Strangely enough the word that keeps coming to me over and over again is calligraphy. Googling the definition, which triggered zilch, led me to penmanship. That led me to go to my concordance and type in "written word," which has taken me deeper than I ever intended to go. Josiah was 8 years old when he became King following his father's death. At age 18 he began a project to repair the temple of the Lord. Hilkiah, found the Book of the Law there and saw to it that this discovery was made known to Josiah. This is what the king asked: "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us." 2 Kings 22:13 2 Kings 23 tells how in...

October 20 Triumphant ...we can TRI with all our own UMPH , but is ANT going to be eternally successful (tested by fire) if it doesn't have the blessing of the Lord. Today's lesson from When God Speaks is one that leaves me exuberant, because I have seen it played out so truthfully in my life. The reality of closed doors in our lives is justified in two powerful statements. 1) God never gives a large assignment to someone who is unprepared. 2) What appeared to be a closed door was God's way of guiding me into a ministry which far surpassed what I could ever have dreamed of doing for God. Blackaby poses these questions: "What are some of the doors that have closed for you?" "How did you respond?" I listed five biggies from my life and answered number two with: "Disappointed at first, but now I see the blessing." Let's Pray :Father, You are the CEO of our lives and we need to trust you with the final decision making. Forgive us when we at...

October 18-19 PAIN...People Actively In Need Webster defines pain in several ways: physical discomfort; acute mental or emotional distress or suffering; one that irks or annoys or is otherwise troublesome. No matter the category, the remedy is the same... we can take it to the Father who is excellent at restraining our pain and bringing comfort... physical, emotional or just plain troublesome! In the next lesson of When God Speaks, Blackaby outlines a process to go through when our circumstances are confusing (painful) and we don't have a clear word from God on what to do. 1) Settle in your mind that God demonstrated His love for you on the cross and that never changes. 2)Do not try to understand what God is like based on your circumstances. Ask Him to help you see His perspective on your situation. 3) Wait on the Holy Spirit. Learn patience! God's timing is always best. 4) Adjust your life to God and what you see Him doing through your circumstances. 5) If...

October 17 Our bulldog nudged up to the side of our bed around 5:30, looking for love and some good scratches. I began a drowsy prayer time. Now finally awake I am trying to remember what the Lord had on my mind to write. Immediately the song Love the One You're With comes to mind. Since Jesus is always with us, that would make sense. Song lyrics beginning with "That" seem to be lurking in the back of my mind...could it be "That's the way, uh huh, I like it." Good to remember, God does long our fellowship and is always there loving us! In Blackaby's study today he mentions the importance of remembering "spiritual markers" in our lives. "Key moments in your walk with God become spiritual markers and give a sense of direction to your life." These are great teaching tools for us and great reminders of the love the One with us has for us. Blackaby states: "When I face a major decision, I review the spiritual markers of my life.......

October 16 Week 5 Day 1 When God Speaks Think! Circumstances are events that occur in your life which God uses to speak clearly about Himself, His purposes, and His ways. Jesus explained that He did not come to earth to do what makes sense to Him. Rather, Jesus watched to see where His Father was working and adjusted His life to become involved in that work. The Spirit of God will impress upon your heart when He wants you to join Him. Blackaby Hmm, both peace and pressure can be used to prod us towards God's purposes for us. And we know that all things work together for good to those how love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom. 8:28 Let's Pray: Circle around us Father, create those boundaries we spoke of yesterday and open our eyes to see that You are the God guiding the circumstances of our lives. Circumstances which reflect You, Your ways and Your purposes. The joy will come Lord, I am confident, when we realize life is not about us, life is abo...

October 15 Boundaries Driving into the city today I passed a stretch of road construction. Orange boundary cones lined the center of the two lanes. The traffic was in the "right" lane while the asphalt in the left lane was being chewed up for resurfacing. I had been asking the Lord to show up and tell me what to write today since I didn't have an opportunity to write this morning. "Boundaries" came screaming into my mind. Hmm, I was thankful those cones were there keeping me from slipping over the edge into that mess. The repetitiveness of the cones was comforting, realizing that when they disappeared the coast would be clear... in the meantime the orange reminders were for my good. God's Word is like a boundary cone...a subtle reminder of what to avoid and where the safety zone lies! God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to his greatness. Psalm 145:3 (The Message) Let's Pray: Be our Boundary Keeper God! Rop...

Oct. 14 Week 4 Day 5 When God Speaks. Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7 "When God determines to do something, He tells His people. When God wants to do something in your family, at your workplace, with your neighbor, or in your child's school, He will alert you so that you can become involved in His work." Blackaby This is such a powerful lesson on page 62 of this book; wish I had time to type all of it for you. Blackaby states, "Your spiritual concentration is essential if you are to recognize all that God is doing around you. If you are not careful you can leave your place of prayer and never make the connection between your prayers and the events of your day." We cry out with financial need, yet bypass the offer when overtime hours are offered. We tell the Lord we want to share his love with others, but neglect the neighbor standing in her yard, the mom in carpool line or the fan sitting in ...

Oct. 13 Week 4 Day 4 When God Speaks God may be refusing to hear your prayers because of the conditions of your life . Yikes! "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear ! Isaiah 1:15 "Couples committing adultery pray and ask God to bless their relationships! Employees mistreat their employees and ask God to bless their businesses! People act selfishly and yet ask God to bless them! Could your prayers be unanswered because after one attempt at reconciliation you assumed the problem was now the other person's and you began to try to relate to God as if everything was now all right?" Blackaby Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. Be first reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them (wives) with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel...

Some Days are Better Than Others Oct. 11-12 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me . Psalm 50:15 My students were on an all day science field trip, so I had the day off. The students headed off by boat from our home, so I invited one of the moms to come inside and pray. We shared and prayed for over 2 hours! It was awesome. My husband had an out of town speaking engagement, so I was late doing the weekend grocery shopping tonight. One of our pastors encouraged us last week to just pick up the tab for someone, sometime, for no reason at all. The grocery store was packed. A young man came up behind me and sat his two items right next to my groceries. I instinctively grabbed for the divider rod. He said, "You don't want my Wood Chuck?" I had no idea what he meant and replied, "I am happy to pay for your groceries." He said, "You don't have to do that." I explained it would make me very happy. He said, "So...

Oct 10 Oh My Goodness Week 4 Day 2/3 When God Speaks How often have you prayed and gone merrily on your way. Time passes, your prayer is answered and you find yourself saying, "Oh my goodness, that is exactly what I prayed for!" Been there, done that! Do you remember in Acts when the church was praying for Peter to be released from prison...he was knocking at their door, while they kept praying and when they opened the door the Bible says they were astonished. Several years ago I came up with the saying that I was going to pray with positive expectancy. Blackaby says in this lesson that when we are surprised by answers to pray that can show a lack of belief on our part. Here are some other powerful thoughts: When we pray God teaches us things we did not know. Sometimes we are so delighted with what we receive that we fail to recognize that God has communicated with us. When God says no to our prayer requests, it is because He has something better for us. Look up these p...

Oct. 9 Week 4 Day 1 Blackaby profoundly informs us that the purpose of prayer is not to influence God, but to change us. "Do you approach God expecting conversation? Do you wait for Him to speak when you have finished talking?" Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jer. 33:3 Life doesn't get any more exciting than that...hearing from God! When I think of the things I waited for patiently this week, I should go back and put hearing from You at the top of the list. I waited for: a pizza and chicken wings to cook; 15 minutes for gas at the pumps; my students to take a quiz; our dog to go potty; 50 emails to be answered; so I should certainly have time to wait to hear from You Lord! Let's Pray: Here we are Father, sitting at your feet, believing in who You are and in the relationship that we have with You, thanks to Jesus. Our "to do" list has been put aside and hearing from You is top priority....

October 8 Week 3 Day 5 (Blackaby-When God Speaks) Michael W. Smith sings: This is the air I breathe This is the air I breathe Your holy presence living in me This is my daily bread This is my daily bread Your very word spoken to me And I I'm desperate for you And I I'm I'm lost without you. One friend shared yesterday that God is humbling our nation and we need to turn to Him and His Word, which brings life. Feed upon these verses today and be refreshed. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe-all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life. Deuteronomy 32:46-47 Let's Pray: God, You are the Giver and Sustainer of life. When anxiety strikes and uncertainty screams at us, may we breathe in Your Word and fin...

Oct. 7 Week Three Day 3/4 (Blackaby) To encounter God in His Word...give us the clear and unerring guidance we need for our lives. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Co. 2:9 I took the afternoon off today, starving to be alone with the Lord. I was so glad I did that instead of coming home and turning on the news and learning what the market had done. Opening my journal, I read You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Luke 12:36 There were two interesting questions that I pass on and pose to you. 1) What keeps you must distracted from awaiting Christ's return? 2) What are some very practical things you could be doing to constantly remind yourself to be scanning the skies, looking forward to His appearing? I had an interesting thought process. When our grandson a...

Oct. 6 Week Three Day Two I've never been a soap opera watcher, but my grandmother was. I remember, it may still exist, a show called The Guiding Light. We have the very same "Guide" on which Jesus relied. Blackaby says: Jesus modeled for us the way each believer should love before God. From birth to death, Jesus allowed Scripture to shape and guide his ministry. Think about it...He battled temptation with Scripture; His Sermon on the Mount is filled with Scripture; He responded to critics with Scripture; even His death fulfilled Scripture. Let's Pray that this week we will feed upon the Word before we take in anything else. Before the news, before breakfast, before checking email. It may mean keeping some Scripture cards by the bed and meditating on a verse before we roll out of bed. Let's pray that each of our lives will be changed this week as the Word comes alive in us.

Oct. 4 Week Three Day One Blackaby's When God Speaks Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 Umm, umm God! Blackaby says: "God wants to say many things to you through His Word. God may confront your sin or reveal something about Himself to enable you to love and trust Him more. God could bring Scripture to mind to alert you to something He knows you will encounter. God's Word can bring comfort in times of crisis. Each time you respond in obedience to what God reveals, He speaks to you further about His will. Check out those action verbs! God is not stagnant. He wants to be intimately involved in our lives, He loves us and created us for relationship. He has given us a guide to follow. This morni...

October 3 Week Two Day 5 Have you ever felt like you are on the spinning tea cup ride at the fair, screaming...."Let me off before I throw up?" That is the way my afternoon went. The exterminator, who happens to love Jesus, met me at home to investigate the ant problem. He knows a lot about ants and now I do too! I spent two, one hour sessions at CVS trying to make a picture CD of 120 photos of a school field trip. Each time I cropped, enhanced and highlighted to have either a faulty CD or the machine fail. I left there the second time frustrated and had to head to the grocery store where I selected the WRONG line and had to load everything up (including a 24 pound bag of dog food) and move to another checkout aisle. Arriving home, I entered the door to the sounds of Bill O'Reilly and Barney Frank battling it out on TV. Now the VP debate has begun and I've decided the best scenario for me is to go off and pray. I am politiced out! Oh my, to top the day off Moses has...