Boojoyful

April 1 Having six babies in eight years was not "a plan" and my mother was concerned for my health. One of my April Fool's jokes on my parents came when I called and told them I was pregnant once again with baby seven...April Fools! They didn't laugh. Today will be a long day as a teacher and I must have my wits about me and be very discerning. Last night my husband had me make a pack with him that we will be part of no April Fools jokes on one another! I can't remember ever sharing about the love of the Lord with someone and having them reply..."You are fooling me." They may find it too good to be true, but I believe deep in every one's heart they want to be loved the way Christ has loved each of us. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Let's Pray : Lord, there is no one who can fool You, for You know all happenings in advance and You perfectly investigate each heart and see t...

March 31 Traveling yesterday to visit a friend who lives way up in the mountains was a blessing because I knew when I arrives at her home it was fine to just walk in the door! I love those kinds of friends who make you feel so at home... the door is always open to you! Jesus is such a friend, well ok, He asks us to knock first! Matthew 7:7-9 Ask, Seek, Knock Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. He does welcome our presence. Check out this song: Come into His presence with thanksgiving in your heart, give Him praise, give Him praise. Come into His presence with thanksgiving in your heart, your voices raised, your voices raised. Give Him glory, honor, and power unto Him,oh,Jesus name above all names. Kneeling to pray for several friends with large prayer requests the Lord placed on my heart the phrase "Open Door". Hmm,...

March 30 Driving to school last week God was speaking to me through the signs which I passed along the way. Reduce speed! Be still and know that I am God came quickly to mind as I determined to slow the pace of my day. Yards away the word fabric got my brain to thinking spiritually and rejoicing in the fact I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Now the extra layers of fluff are my doing.) Then the word exit made a very strong impact me as I contemplated that Jesus will exit heaven and come again to earth. Also, there is a chance I will make my exit from this world before Jesus comes back. Lots to think about in an eight minute drive to work! There are signs of God everywhere! Whether He is speaking to us through a wonderful creation popping out here at spring time, putting a word before us in black and white or whispering to us through a song we can't deny His presence. Both my boyfriend and my bulldog are asleep as I type. As I watch the quiet (well, more so quiet for t...

March 27-29 A few weeks ago I walked through a hotel lobby in Alabama to take the elevator to my room. A woman called out "Ma'am, Ma'am!" I assumed she was calling to one of the young ladies at the front desk so I looked straight ahead at the elevator. Then she ran right up to me and said, "Girl friend, are you a hooker?" I was taken back at first and then realized I had a rug hooking frame over my arm along with the rest of my luggage. I replied, "Actually, I am just learning. Are you a professional?" (Realizing the front desk gals were listening, I thought I'd spike their curiosity.) The woman's reply was priceless.... "Oh, no I just do it for fun!" My husband said only in the south would this conversation between strangers have taken place and would I have been addressed as girlfriend. Last week one of the teachers at our school emailed my husband that the Lord had given her the word "aim." As she prayed for the reaso...

March 26 My personal study time today took me into Revelation and an explanation of the Great White Throne Judgement. It stated that God would much prefer all come to a saving knowledge of Christ than have to throw anyone into the Lake of Fire. It posed the question of how our hearts are towards the lost. I decided it would be a good time right then and there to stop and pray for people who have never given me any reason to believe they love the Lord. I decided to pray over two categories. The first, people whom I love and don't want to be lost and then those I loath and in my human mind believe they deserve to burn for a long time for the cruelties they have brought upon others. The Loved Lost list developed quickly. Only two names came to mind for the Loathed Lost list. (No, they are not a government officials, but a husband wife team, whom I struggle with unforgiveness towards). Years ago my Loathed List would have been much longer, but experiencing God's forgiveness myself ...

March 25 Working my foot over a bit to the right side of our bed I didn't feel my bed buddy. I stretched my leg a bit more and finally reached the other edge of the bed becoming aware my husband was not there. Four AM was a bit early for him to rise, but I could see the light on in his office, so I rolled over and went back to sleep. Mother's can relate to this kind of awareness...we sense when our infants are stirring or when things are too quiet for the good of the home of a toddler! Yesterday, I arrived home from work later than usual and instead of going in the front door I went around the side of the house and went in a door by our bull dog's pen, so I could let him out immediately. It was a beautiful day and Moses had a wonderful romp in the yard and enjoyed sliding down the hill on his back, then rolling over and over in the grass! I was unaware of an important fact. Had I gone in the front door I would have seen the note telling me the yard had been fertilized and t...

March 24 Spring is trying to pop in via the daffodils and Bradford Pears, but the starkness of many a tall naked tree is a reminder of the marks of winter. Walking one day, with a friend who was visiting the Lake, we were both amazed at the visibility of winter. With the fluffy green foliage removed you can see so much more property and even homes which you were never even aware of. Hmmm...God has that kind of open view into our lives all the time! Driving along the main corridor of Moneta I was amazed by how the tall slender trees stay upright. I struggle to even get a candle to stand firm in its' candle holder at times. Ah, we all know the key...the roots are what keep the tree grounded. Peering through the wooded areas, downed trees who had lost the battle with nature could be seen as well. We need to stay strong in our spiritual roots to withstand the storms of life. The amazing truth for us is that even when we are downed our root system founded on Jesus can be reestablished a...

March 23 This weekend I wrote about being willing to train up others and the importance of mentoring others until we meet our Maker. I experienced the privilege this past week of walking alongside a younger woman who was struggling. She knew changes needed to be made in her life, but that isn't an easy task for any of us. Thursday I told her of another young woman in Roanoke I wanted her to meet. I hadn't seen this person since last August. On Saturday I was in Roanoke for a bridal shower and as I drove past Roanoke Memorial Hospital I noticed a tall slender woman running along Wiley Drive. There was no place to pull over, but I stopped in the right hand lane of traffic and waited to see if the gal was who I thought it was. I stood in the road and called down the street to her as she ran by (still not for certain it was this friend). The smokers on the hospital smoking block all stared at me. Finally the woman heard me and ran up to me. She was blown away. Five minutes be...

March 21-22 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 Today's thought has dual purpose, for when we are training up another we are reinforcing teachings that we ourselves need to live by. If we are not influencing a younger person today we need to take action in some form. Now remember that can be an 80 year old instructing a 60 year old! Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, Titus 2:2-4 Let's Pray: Lord, speak to us with Your wise counsel. Gently teach us Your life sustaining precepts. How blessed we are to be called Your children. Forgive us when we disappoint You and go our own selfish ways, block our paths which could lead t...

March 20 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. Mt. 5:13 Trod was the word that came to me in the middle of the night. I don't recall ever using that word. In the Bible it is most often used in reference to stomping grapes! (You know, like the scene in I Love Lucy .) The Matthew reference to trodden made me think of our Christian faith in America. Our values have lost their strength, quality and respect, but unlike salt, they can be revived! The power of the Holy Spirit can restore the saltiness of beleivers! Even when we feel like we have been trod upon, we can be raised up through the power given to us by Christ's victory over the grave and his gift of the Holy Spirit! Let's Pray: Lord, May we not choose to walk in a down trodden spirit when we know we are equipped with the magnificient power of ...

March 19 I am bouncing all over the place right now... the mother of all hot flashes just had me unbuttoning my blouse and turning on the ceiling fan, while my computer shutting down and going black had my blood pressure in a panic. I have scurried home from school to take the dog out and get picked up before a prayer group arrives and of course get this devo out late today because I was a day behind reading emails and chose that over the Lord's work this AM. Now Moses, is being demanding wanting water, to go outside and for us to play his favorite game, "Get the Bone". Ha, ha...all these add right up to the Beth Moore quote in my journal. Most of humanity's trouble stems from our naturally insatiable self-centeredness. (Guess that goes for our pets too.) Life is a circle that goes around and around, but most often we are what is at the center of that circle. Moore goes on to speak of how miserable self-absorption is and that the practice of playing God is exhaustin...

March 18 Our daughter's initials were BAA and growing up she had an incredible sheep collection! Now that she has married her initials are BAM! BAM is what happened to my husband and me yesterday. We were hit by the enemy on multiple fronts. to the point we could not aide one another, but even turned from each other in our frustration. I knew the battle was spiritual, but chose to fight with worldly weapons...words, not prayers. Both of us were in terrible pain from wounds which had been inflicted in totally unrelated battels. Praise the Lord in our weakened conditions we both were able to reach for God's Word and eventually come together in prayer. God's mercies are new every morning. Check out what He gave us in God's Calling today. We read this together and it was as if a drop of the magic potion from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe had been placed upon us. May these words bring healing to you as well. There is victory in Jesus. Your Resolutions Listen, listen...

March 17 "It's another day!" Those were the profound first words I had for our bulldog this morning. Saint Patrick left us this quote that will get you through a day. I arise today, through God's might to uphold me. God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me and God's shield to protect me. Moses, awakened me from a dream this morning in which I had cancer and our children's pediatrician was my doctor. Not sure where the second part came from, but I went to bed praying for several of my friends who are in cancer battles. May we all take time to pray today for those we know struggling with health issues. Let's Pray : God you are the Great Physician. You can even heal broken hearts! Please Father, cease the pain and suffering so prevalent in the world. Restore to many their health and have them tell of Your mercy. Stir our hearts to be people who are comfo...

March 14-15 Contemplating the "weekend" the words weak end came to mind. Biblegateway had 82 references for the word weak. Yesterday, I was weak in my walk. Right after writing about a strong witness, my husband and I headed to pick up some things at Lowe's in Alabama. Leaving the check out counter I was convicted that I had not shared God's love with the young lady at the register, so walking away I muttered a soft "God bless you." We got to the car and realized we had forgotten one item. I volunteered to go back inside for it. The only empty check outline was the one I had just been in. I told the girl about the blog and how God had impressed upon my heart to tell people how much He loves them and how I had not done that. She smiled and said thanks. Then I asked...is there something you need me praying about? She said, "Yes, please pray for my health. I have an unknown kidney disease." I gave her my email address and asked her to keep me updated...

March 13 Where am I and what time is it actually? Putting my head down last night in another strange bed in a different time zone, led to those questions being the first thing on my mind this morning. Add the recent change to daylight saving times and the confusion magnified. I guess that is the sign of a really good night's sleep! Think how the early disciples must have felt when they were on the move. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. With those thoughts in my head, I began to think back on all the places (short and long term) God has placed me in my lifetime and if I fulfilled many of His purposes for me on my journeys. Try to begin to grasp the impact we can have for His kingdom in all the places he sends us. Think back to every school you have attended, every job you have held, every city in which you have lived. Now narrow the search to e...

March 12 There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord There are sweet expressions on each face And I know they feel the presence of the Lord On our way to visit our son at Auburn University, we were blessed with amazing fellowship at Church of the Apostles last night in Atlanta, GA. We popped in on what is called "The Hour of Power", which is a time of praise and prayer. We stayed, as the guests of dear friends, and attended a book study. The fellowship can best be described as "sweet," hus the reason I awakened singing the opening hymn! The fellowship of believers is a blessing! We also have access to an intimate fellowship with Christ our Lord. So if you are ever feeling lonely and in need of a lift have a visit with Jesus or plug into a church whose love for the Lord overflows onto all who enter through its doors. (Or in the case of Shiloh, to all who wander through its blades of grass!) 1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has...

March 11 God led me off the beaten path yesterday to remind me of who He is! Pulling down the driveway, my husband noticed the big old Mr. Osprey who lives in our cove hanging out on our shoreline near our beach area. It is a very wooded area and he blended right in. I've always wanted a picture of him, so my husband ran in to get the camera, while I kept my eye on the big ole bird. I tried to take a round about route to get a better vantage point, but there was no fooling this fellow, he spread his enormous wings and sailed away. (My humorous husband who is with me while I am writing this in the car has just hollered out.."The Osprey, flew off yelling, 'Os prey, Os prey'. Meaning...I's free, I's free." Oh, the joy of living with this man. The next best photo opt was of the seagulls soaring around, so I went to another side of the property and took a sit evaluating the situation. (Whoops, my editor just said, "Be careful there, stay clear of the '...

March 10 Jesus makes me smile. Security was the word of the morning on my mind. I opened a devotional to read and there was the confirmation that this was to be the topic for today....Joshua 1:9 Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Works for me! The mere presence of my husband makes me feel safe wherever I am. Now leave me alone even in my own home and doors are locked and I am under the covers by 7:30, locked in my bedroom. The truth of the matter is we cannot escape the watchful eye of God. Where can I flee from Your presence ? Psalm 139:7 There is a song with the lyric "Things ain't like they used to be." Partly true. Oh, how we long for the good ole days, but one thing never changes...God is on his throne making decisions on HIS own! Decisions which are designed to bring Him glory and bring us a hope and a future in the heavenly realm. When we were going over our budget Sunday trying to find...

March 9 We have a beautiful magnolia tree in our yard and it took a major hit during our snow storm last week. I was heartbroken for I love this tree and should have known to go out and knock the snow off of it several times during the storm. There was nothing I could do to bring all those huge limbs back. My husband was getting ready to haul away the damage and I asked him to wait. Getting my clippers, I wished there was someone with a wedding who could decorate a whole church with these gorgeous leaves. Looking around at all my empty outdoor planters I decided to start clipping and filling them up with magnolia. I went inside and filled six containers with magnolia branches...our front walk and door look like a magnolia jungle. Next I filled four giant garbage bags with magnolia and hit the road to the homes of several friends spreading cheap joy! One friend was so excited. She said she had not been able to afford magnolia this past Christmas to decorate with and she was going to fil...

March 7-8 My husband and I were sitting on our dock on this gorgeous Saturday and out from underneath the dock popped what we thought were two young ducklings. No sooner had they appeared than they disappeared. "Where did they go?" I asked. Yards further out they popped up again only to dive right back under the water out of sight. (They reminded me of my boys who love to sneak up and scare me when I am swimming in the Lake.) Dining with friends tonight we learned these are migratory loons, not ducks. Our school Spring Break began yesterday and I thought I would take a week off from the devotional, you know...ducking out of the scene for a few days. Then I thought, God never takes a break from watching over me, I certainly shouldn't slip away from seeking His face because I am on break. If any thing I should draw closer to Him. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 So, a little late today, but I'm back! Decided I d...

March 6th What kind of day will it be when the Lord begins it with the thought of hidden things? I awakened praying for my children and those of several dear friends. The Lord revealed to me as a MOAC (no that is not an Indian tribe, it stand for Moms of Adult Children...I guess MAC could work as well) that I don't know all that much anymore about my children, who are spread across the country. I wrote this to my prayer partners: Lord, You know the needs of our children more than we do, actually more than they do Father! I don't even know if my children have a runny nose or a stomach ache right now, but You do Lord. I don't know the secret longings of their hearts or all the temptations they are battling, but You know every thought before they think it. Praise You that: All our longings lie open before you, O Lord; our sighing is not hidden from you. Psalm 38:9 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of ...

March 5th The testing of my obedience has occurred once again. This morning I received a powerful You Tube presentation titled The 2nd Revolution..."Common Sense". Timidly, I thought about to whom it would be safe to forward this without offending them. Then I opened my daily journal study I am doing and was posed this question: "How well do you respond to God when He clearly shows you something from His Word or in some other form that is definitely Him? The You Tube clip, which reminds one of the principles this nation was founded on...including GOD, crossed my mind, but I sheepishly went on with my study. I responded to the question with these words: I get excited when I hear from the Lord, but am often slow to act. I do follow through with obedience in what He asks me to write on the devotional each day." Liar, liar pants on fire. I kept moving forward. Heading to the next page the first sentence by Beth Moore read: "Years ago I learned a good rule of thumb ...

March 4 Whew, I don't know about you, but the reality of where we are headed as a nation has me heart broken. What we have voted into place as a nation has me feeling like there is no turning back and no hope. Well, lawsie mercy, that can't be from Jesus! I am doing a journaling study that is based on Jesus' beloved John by Beth Moore. Today she took me to Patmos where the aged John had been exiled and it was not a vacation island spot. The Roman emperor was ticked off at John because of his faith. Check out Rev. 1:9 John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God's word and the testimony about Jesus. Fact: It is becoming less and less popular to be a Christian. When we face trials of many kinds (and God's word tells us we will) we are to persevere and be blessed by the side kick of perseverance... her name is Hope and she is such an encourager! John didn't throw himself into t...

March 3 Putting on our boots and snow gear we started to trudge UP the half mile long driveway to place a card in the mailbox. The snow was a foot deep in places and the glare from the sun so strong I had to go back for sunglasses. I had made this trek many times before, but was amazed at my early exhaustion. My husband shared that the added weight of the boots and clothes alone made the attempt more difficult and asked me if I wanted to turn back and try 4 wheel drive! "No," I insisted. I wanted to enjoy the beauty of the day. Praying these verses this morning I thought how much life resembles the snow trekking experience yesterday. Your right hand sustains me (Ps.18:35) and You have made a name for Yourself that endures until this day ( Neh. 9:10) Nothing is too hard for you. (Jer 32:17) My soul rejoices in my God . (Isaiah 61:10) The climb can be exhausting, but the view is great when you make it to the top. God sustains us along the way, if we stop and allow Him the op...

March 2 Giving up on ever getting snow, I removed all my snowman decorations from my classroom Friday! The kids said, "Now watch, Miss Boo, it will snow!" And snow it did! The storm moved in yesterday afternoon and kept a comin until 6AM this morning. Last night we kept the outside lights on and it looked as if we were living inside a snow globe. I've never seen snow whip in so many different directions. My husband couldn't find a yard stick this morning, but took a knife outside and the snow is deeper than that, so he figures we have at least 9 inches. The power has been out for hours, but we have Verizon Internet Access so I am connected to the world and we have gas fireplaces, so we are cozy! Praise the Lord, as I typed contently, the power came on! God is so good! This is the only snowfall we have had this winter. Yesterday, we climbed in the car and ventured out to just "be in it". Today I want to get out and walk enjoying this gift God has give...