Boojoyful

July 29 Not able to sleep I was up before the sun and my sweet husband agreed to go for a morning walk with me. I took him to the route which I used to walk with some girlfriends. This morning route has us encounter four men who each walk alone. Each of the men had a comment for me which had my husband start to wonder what really goes on at "the walk". When one of the men said, "You are looking as beautiful as always," my husband quickly replied..."Well, thank you, my wife doesn't look so bad either." The man was really caught off guard but chuckled! Now it would appear that I have some friends my husband doesn't know about, but the truth of the matter is we are just cheerful passer byers! Here are a couple verses on "appearance". Ask the Lord to reveal to you any situation where things aren't as they seem to be. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross.

July 28 There are times in our lives when it feels like a swarm of bees is after us and we can't swat them away fast enough. We are hit from every direction and our minds become confused. I am in the swarm of life right now. Trying to get to sleep last night a variety of bees (subjects) kept stinging me robbing my rest. After each attack I was quick to say...Jesus I just want to see Your face. I began trying to recall scripture knowing that is the sword of the Spirit (excellent bee repellant). Finally, some rest came. No weapon (or bee) formed against us can prosper (oooo, another PRO word). We can take it to the One who cares for us and be comforted! May the knowledge of Christ and his love for you be the peace that passes understanding in your day today. My father is not well and hallucinating. Yesterday as I sat on his bed with Him he said, "Look out the window at the choir. I believe they are all males. Oh, they are singing the hymn... Faith of our Fathers ... Yes, w

July 27 I had just spent an hour and a half researching and writing an entry called God is a Pro. When our phone rings it kicks me off line, but usually the blog is saved. I continued writing and went to publish and lost everything. My first reaction was... you've got to be kidding me, that was so good. I felt like I had been robbed...I must have been writing in my own skin, not the Spirit from God. I am not kidding you..the phone is ringing again. Good lesson here to let it go and let God be priority! God is our PROvider, PROtector, PROducer. We can turn to Him for all our needs. We can cry out to Him for protection when fears and anxiety try to hold us captive. We can rely on Him to produce the fruit from our lives which brings Him glory. Temptation has me wanting to skip the research of all the verses I had found, to save time in my day, but knowing how God works I must need a double dose of those verses, so back to work I go! He provides food for those who fear him. Psalm 111:

July 25-26 Giving Moses his daily morning attention I praised God Moses could open his eyes as I cleaned gookies (as I call them) out of these droopy eyes. Wiping his drippy nose, again the praises followed for he is still thrilled by scents. Although one ear struggles with infections he hears well with the other one. And as I gave him his morning massage...yes he is spoiled...and the summer shedding exhibited hair coming off by the handfuls, I praised the Lord he was still growing hair. It was a "thank You, God, for this wonderful creature" moment. My thoughts turned to my father who places several of his teeth in a jar at night and has very little hair on his head any more. Hearing aids do the best they can to assist him, but he relies heavily on reading lips and we miss placed his reading glasses yesterday which presents quite a problem! As heart wrenching as it is to watch the aging process I am thankful for the medical treatment he has been able to receive all these year

July 24 While having dinner with friends last night the husband was telling about house guests this past weekend who are mid-lifers (50) with a one year old. Our friend chuckled and said yup, this fellow has wrinkles and rattles. Whew, I was thinking of the mom who combined menopause and morning sickness! Thankfully, I am not the mother of a one year old right now, but God works things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Thinking about this couple I began to reflect on the other parents they will encounter at Mother's Day Out, the church nursery, Back to School Nights and in the stands for sporting events. They will have wisdom, which comes with age, to pass on to the twenty year old parents. Last night I was praying with a young twenty something friend whose father has been battling cancer for a few years. Yesterday, his hip broke and he is awaiting surgery today. This young woman is a teacher and lives at home with her parents. She

July 23 The nasty, nurse encounter happened yesterday and stole my peace. My father's medications seemed to have him out of whack. Calling his doctor I found out he would not be available until Friday, so I asked for a nurse to see if some medication changes could be causing the problem. We had encountered attitude problems with a nurse before and the office had been gracious to always give us another one when we visited. Well, nasty nurse was the one available yesterday and with our doctor out of town she went into her condescending routine. My peace was stolen and I was ready to have all our charts moved to another doctor. Six of us in our family go to this doctor. This morning the foul taste of yesterday was still in my mouth, but check out God's instructions to me through the God Calling Devotional and Quiet Moments with God ...such confirmation that God is aware of what is happening in my life and wants to speak to me. Stop All Work Until...Our Lord, grant us that wonderf

July 22 Blockage:an act or instance of obstructing. Torrential rains exposed a blockage in one of our gutters which had collected debris. Moses has an ear infection which has resulted in drainage collecting and pus obstructing his ear canal. There are other blockages which occur and bring pain and discomfort, but one of the worst is when we feel there is something obstructing our ability to hear from the Lord. Busy schedules and life's distractions can certainly rob us from our God connection. The Word is clear that sin and unforgiveness build up a communication wall. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18 Last night I awakened from a dream where I was teaching Sunday School and the children would not listen. Some were coloring, others had Lego constructions going up in front of them, while some played house and dressed baby dolls. Whoa, a powerful message for us as adults. I am convicted. Yesterday, God said to me..."Come alone with

July 21 Some of our children have been here visiting the past few days. The last three will take off today. (With their dogs.) Sitting beside my daughter on the couch last night I was scratching her back. Then my mind was taken back to when she was a little girl and I would brush her hair. There was such a wonderful comfort in just running my fingers through her hair and having her close. Last week I believe I shared about visiting my father who has not been feeling real spunky. (This is allowed at 89.) Comfort came from just sitting beside him, holding his hand and rubbing his back and just being thankful for the ability to simply "be" with him. This morning I thought how often do I do that with my heavenly Father or is there always an agenda...a sense of rushing to get in the praise, the repentance, the intercession and petitions and possibly listen for a response. Slipping my hand between my satin comforter and Egyptian cotton blanket I imagined I was holding the hand of C

July 20 Blowing my hair dry, my mind began to wander to worries and wrongs from the past. Two situations were raising my blood pressure and God placed on my mind..."Why are you picking that trash back up...leave it alone, trust me and move forward. Don't let the enemy drag you back to what has past." Psalm 37:8 from The Message says: Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes it only makes things worse. Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; God-investors will soon own the store . Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Let's Pray: Heavenly Father, You are our dwelling place! Forgive us for the times we let our guard and Your guidance wain and we begin to worry and work out of own salvation plan! The past is past and You allowed us to walk through it, now with trust in our heels w

July 18-19 The hymn His Name is Wonderful was dribbling off my lips as I awakened to another pink sunrise. His Name is Wonderful His Name is Wonderful His Name is Wonderful Jesus My Lord He is the Mighty King Master of everything His Name is Wonderful Jesus My Lord He’s the Great shepherd The Rock of All Ages Almighty God is He Bow down before Him Love and adore Him His Name is Wonderful Jesus My Lord "I need a word from You today Father," I prayed. "Stupendous," he replied. Rushing to Biblegateway my doubts were confirmed when there was no sign of stupendous. Switching to definition mode a grin affirming His faithfulness crept across my face as I read these four synonyms. Causing... astonishment or wonder, awesome, marvelous. Psalm 145:6 Your marvelous doings are headline news; I could write a book full of the details of your greatness. Deuteronomy 10:14 Look around you: Everything you see is God's—the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it

July 17 Listening to the Lord is just too much fun! The first words on my mind this AM were authority and then author. In light of God being our authority and Christ given authority to forgive sin...check this out! Authority -power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior. Author - one who originates or creates (from Latin auctor promoter, originator, author, from augēre to increase) Mark 1:22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. W00T! I love being under the authority of my Originator, the Creator of the Universe, the one who knows my every thought and can influence my every decision if I allow.

July 16 Well, this title took me on whirlwind tour of classic literature and the meaning of nursery rhymes. Things aren't always what they seem to be! http://childrensbooks.suite101.com/article.cfm/mary_mary_quite_contrary http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_Mary,_Quite_Contrary My little deck garden has been a delight. Even the double daily waterings provide a time to be still and reflect on the Lord. The expectancy involved is the intriguing part...looking forward to what has come to fruition and is ready to be harvested. Our spiritual lives are so garden like... the planting of seeds (evangelism), the watering (Bible Study), fertilizing (prayer), the pest control(sin and persecution), and waiting for the harvest (waiting on God's provisions and answers to prayer). Today in God Calling it says: " Know My Divine Power. Trust in Me. Dwell in My Love. Laugh and trust. Laughter is a child's faith in God and good." Heading out to pick some peppers, I fully antici

July 15 Dog sitting for our sons' tall, skinny,Rhodesian Ridgeback named Scotty last night was a contrast from our short, buff English Bulldog. Both my man and the bulldog have nightly bathroom routines, which I amazingly sleep right through. Last night my husband said each time he returned to our bed, which is over three feet off the ground, Scotty had jumped up on the bed and taken his place by me. I never noticed! This made me think about all the occurrences which go on around us and we never notice. The short lady in the grocery store who could really use help reaching the top shelf, the lonely person in the church pew who longs to meet a friend, the flagman on the road job whose wife is critically ill and he could use our prayers, or the neighbor dying of cancer whose family members are in from out of town and would appreciate a home cooked meal and a hug. Open our eyes Lord and help us to see where You are working and want us to join You. Interruptions have abounded this morn

July 14 The Bible study ladies would be arriving within the hour and I had nothing with which to decorate the dinner tables. Driving along our ½ mile gravel driveway to the house I looked frantically for Queen Ann’s Lace along the roadside…none. There were some interesting green weeds that I grasped out of desperation. Walking out onto our dock I grabbed the hose to water my plants and plucked some banana peppers and parsley to come up with a very unique floral design! God provided the cutest center pieces in just the nick of time. What are the needs you are questioning? Cry out to God and watch Him provide. Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

July 13 Gearing up for school to start back the topic of worth enters my mind once again as I consider the salaries of teachers and school administrators compared to other careers...especially professional athletes! I'll have to admit I think back on some high school teachers who have taught the same class for 20 or more years from the same set of notes and they have a pretty sweet situation. This is not the norm though. Lower school teachers with ever changing curriculum, bulletin boards to create and new little minds trying to grasp the basics of reading, writing and arithmatic carry a load home every night. Add to the standard requirements, dealing with student emotions and their parents, and teachers should at least be paid what counselors make! As a teacher, the question of "Is my time worth more than this?" has merit. The word worth relates to monetary value; the value of something measured by its qualities or by the esteem in which it is held; and a moral or pers

July 12 Friday, I announced to the Lord, "I quit, You have picked the wrong woman for the task at hand. You have taken me deeper than I am capable of going with You. The battle is too ferocious, I want out." First off that is where I was going wrong...relying on my capabilities. God is fulling capable of bringing all things He desires to fruition. He wasn't depending on me for the outcome...He just wanted my faithfulness to Him on the ride. Typing in "quit" in The Message check out what I fed upon this morning. Our God is so personal, He speaks right to our hearts when we get alone with Him and still ourselves. How quick He is to forgive. Just two days ago I bailed on Him and he is already tenderly building me back up. He is not the least bit miffed... for He is not human...He is God! Romans 12:11 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help n

July 10-12 Numbness keeps trying to crowd its way into my existence appearing to be the preferred state of mind to the raging choice of overwhelmingness. Hmmm, summer shouldn't be like this. My brain is emotional mush, so I whispered to the Lord..."Could you put it (the message) in clear site and not make me think much?" A small pillow lay on the couch next to me and turning it over lay, written in a creative script, the phrase "Seek Him with all your heart," which is always a great message to pass along such as the standard Christian line of "read your Bible and pray". Precious friends who sensed a burden abounding at 500 Moonriver Lane stopped by with some praise music and prayer for us last night. God sent confirmation through those prayers (or pray ers) of verses He had taken me to that very morning on the importance of hating what is evil. (I'm equating the mud pie in the title with evil...often a thick gooey mess that masquerades as something

July 9 Sitting on our screened porch is like being up in a tree house. As I look out it is as if the tree tops are doing their morning stretches trying their best to touch God in heaven. Every leaf is looking up! How about us? Is our heart's desire to be closer to the Lord each day? A friend gave me the book Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge and each page fills me with elation for it is full of passion from a writer who knows the thrill of being at the feet of the King. Chatting with a friend who is enduring a time of testing and patience with a long term house guest I began sharing the power of listening prayer and taking time to sit before the Lord. The suggestion of asking Him for a word and going to a Bible concordance to be led to scriptures which might speak to her erupted the deer in the headlights look. My response was..."You think I'm a nut don't you?" Her quiet answer..."Yup." We love each other dearly, but she hasn't tasted what I

July 8 Once again God rocks my world. About six weeks ago He impressed upon my heart to pray for the uterus of a friend's daughter in law. I asked my friend if he daughter in law was pregnant and she said not to her knowledge. Then about 10 days ago the young woman was here attending a Sunday service and during our prayer time the Lord gave me the same urge to pray for her uterus. (Now this has never happened to me before...a rather unusual prayer request.) Asking her if there was any chance she was pregnant...she looked pretty shocked and said, "I don't think so." Well....guess what....she is 5-6 weeks pregnant! Returning from my morning walk the Lord gave me the word vibrant/vibrance. "What am I to do with that Lord?" I thought back to the "uterus"..ok, I will trust You and go sit a spell and seek out "vibrance". Going to Merriam-Webster here is what confronted me... pulsating with life, vigor, or activity. Totally different from my

July 7 The song Open My Eyes Lord, I Want to see Jesus was playing in my heart during my quiet time and on my bedside table was a Pier 1 tag off a patio umbrella which reads "outdoor/exterieur". (Maybe that is french or just fancy retail for "exterior'. "Situated on the outside and observable by outward signs" are two definitions of exterior. I want my exterior to allow others to observe Jesus has the main ingredient in my life.

July 5-6 Two KOOL words rambled across my mind on this rainy Sunday morning. Reflect-Freedom One of our favorite family gathering times is reflecting on things of the past. As the mom, it quite often occurs that these reflections are news to me! Ah, the things a mom may never know! Searching the scriptures related to reflect established a composite which thrilled my heart. Not knowing where you are in life today, I will share a variety and ask the Lord to feed you what you need. Personally I am dishing up a scoop of insight and transformation for myself. 2 Timothy 2:7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Psalm 63:5 (The Message) I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises! If I'm sleepless at midnight,

July 3-5 Opening Bible Gateway, the verse on their home page was: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve. Jeremiah 17:9-10 How do we find help for our heart condition? Allowing the Holy Spirit the right to perform surgery daily keeps us in tip top shape. Let's Pray: Father, You are the author of freedom through Christ and we praise Your name this holiday weekend. Please do whatever it takes to turn our rebellious hearts back to You and may we be able to sing with fervor, "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful". Jesus is the only cure for deceitful hearts! With each beat my our hearts echo... "I love You Lord." In Jesus' Name, Amen

July 2 The wind is rustling the leaves this morning and the birds are trying to outdo one another with their morning calls. Leaning my ear heavenward I am listening for what God wants me to share this morning. The first word I thought I heard was "Penelope". No clue, I thought and certainly not in the concordance, but I will give it a shot. Nope, no Penelope in the Bible. Maybe the connection wasn't clear Lord, try again...Can I hear you now? Priority Ah, now there is a possibility. Proverbs 2:1 The Message[Make Insight Your Priority] Good friend, take to heart what I'm telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life. Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding. That's right—if you make Insight your priority, and won't take no for an answer, Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt, Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; you'll have com

July 1 Studying Esther this summer, I have reached the climax in chapter 4 where she comes to the conclusion she must take her chances and come before the King unannounced and petition him on behalf of her people, the Jews, who are about to be annihilated. This is not proper protocol and her chances of being killed are great! In response to her cousin Mordecai's request, she says, "If I perish I perish." How incredible is our access to the King of Kings! Never do we have to fear for our lives when we approach Jesus! In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. Psalm 56:4 "I confess that often, my lack of knowledge of You (God) is the cause of my insecurity, inconsistency, and insufficiency. It also accounts for the vacillation in my prayers." Lloyd John Ogilvie