Boojoyful

January 31 In the movie, Stranger Than Fiction, the main character realizes his life is being written for him and is trying to determine if the author is writing a comedy or a tragedy. (Realizing if it is a tragedy, it will result in his death.) Tragedies are tragic, because the characters are powerless to save themselves from their plight. Christianity is more of a romance! While death, pain, and sin abound in the scripts of our lives, we have a Savior who provides a happy ending. But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Not one of us knows how today will play out. It may bring great elation to some of us and devastation or even death to others. I am thankful for a faith which provides stability in the wild ride called life . PT Savior, like a shepherd lead us! Forgive us when our gaze drifts from You and we allow ourselves or others to author our l

January 29-30 Yesterday, after five days in pajamas and not coming out of this flu, I was beginning to think I'd been drugged and wasn't going to be able to shake this stuff. Wait! Holy Spirit alert! The white bird just showed up, came straight down the cove towards my bedroom window, flapped her wings at me and did a u-turn as if to say, "You are going to be sailing smoothly again soon!" What a lift to my morning. Whether that means back to good health or onto heaven, I am up for either. Sometimes we just need a sign of hope on the horizon or a little help from our friends to keep on keeping on. The Lord has been that help for me today by putting the devo thoughts together in seconds. The word on my heart was steadfast: firmly fixed in place, not subject to change, firm in belief, determination, or adherence. You know, like our marriage vows..in sickness or in health, for richer or poorer...steadfast! Clicking on Merriam-Webster to look up the definition of ste

January 28 God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him. Proverbs 28:9 Just as a coach will not continue to send in the athlete who does not carry out his plays, God must weary of us not carrying out His instructions. We seek, knock and ask for Him to speak to us and then so often, we aren't in agreement with his game plan and ignore His instructions. Check Out Chris Tomlin's Song "I Will Follow" under Hear Ye Hear Ye

January 27 Opening my calendar I was hoping for some scriptures to pray over a friend who received a disappointing report from her cancer scan Tuesday and now her mother has been admitted to the hospital with a dangerous infection. Staring me in the face was 1 Corinthians 15:57. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. “A grateful heart is always ready for a miracle.” Deborah Norville Ugh..."I don't think that is going to cheer her up Lord," I thought and read on to January 28th. I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content . Philippians 4:11 “The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our disposition, and not our circumstances.” Martha Washington (Well, Miss Martha, I don’t think cancer was as rampant back in your day.) I wouldn't blame my girlfriend at all if she threw something when she read that verse. Grappling for a more comforting verse I flipped over a couple days and found Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord G

January 26 Today's word is reveal which means to make known or open up to view. While I've never attended one, I thought about the resorts that call and offer you a free weekend if you will just come and listen to their real estate spiel. Reality TV is constantly revealing a new make over either physically (The Biggest Loser), decoratively (Extreme Home Makeover) or relationally (Bachelor/Bachelorette). Having the flu I opted out of listening to the President reveal his plans for our nation last night. I was encouraged by the prayer requests from the Presidential Prayer Team this morning. If you don't get their emails here is the address. PrayerTeam@Presidential-Prayer-Team.org Studying the scriptures we find reference to God revealing his wrath, Word, knowledge, mysteries and ultimately his righteous acts and Christ. Check out what John says: Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of nations. Who will not fear you,

January 25 http://www.crosscards.com/cards/scripture-cards/look-up.html I hope the link above opened for you and you were able to receive the "Look Up" card today. God is up to something. He is always doing a new work, sometimes we are just too busy to notice. I lift up my eyes to the mountains-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber... Psalm 121:1-3 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 God has had me over the grill (hot coals) the past few days (trying to tenderize me). The scenarios have been beyond belief and at times I wondered why He even bothers continuing this training course with me. Amidst all the obstacles we have house guests (a young couple with whom we have been doing pre-marital coun

January 24 After a sermon yesterday, I realized I was smack in the middle of a "Master's" level course. The Master, Jesus! The minister gently explained if you find yourself dwelling on the negative, you are lacking in your faith. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 My head was spinning and my heart receiving the truth of his message. Confessing my lack of faith and inability to think BIG, which means think God, I jotted down these revelations in my notebook and stepped forth into Sunday professing change. I had also proposed to avoid phone calls and emails on this day, but eleven contacts later through phone and emails trepidation, which Webster's defines as a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation had set in an overtaken my day. I don't think my faith, which the minister explained could move mountains, could hav

January 22-23 Today holds ahead a wide spectrum of activities for me as I attend a baby shower for one friend's daughter in law and a memorial service for another friend's father. Life throws us a full spectrum of experiences. We can go from euphoria to answering a phone call and crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." If you want to read an action packed story today, go to 1 Kings 18-19 and check out a blast from the past where Elijah is challenging the Baal worshippers to a bonfire contest. Elijah's God wins big time and the event concludes with the slaughter of the prophets of Baal, which ruffles Queen Jezebel's skirts to say the least! She sends this message to Elijah, "May the gods deal with me, bit it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them. (The dead prophets)" Elijah, goes from elation to pure panic and heads for the hills. (Actually the desert.) It's a great read,

January 21 A friend stayed with us the other night while he was on the road raising funds for a prison ministry. He shared the story of a high wire act which performs in some of the prisons. In the act a daughter climbs up and sits or stands on her father's shoulders while he is on the wire suspended in the air. Part of the act is someone asking her how she can do that. Her reply... "I trust my Father." These two verses were listed in a devotional I was reading this morning and it made me think of the high wire act! ...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27 We trust pilots flying planes, friends and even strangers on the highway driving cars, baby sitters and teachers with our children, investors with our money, the FDA with food and drug inspection, some politicians

January 20 My first six months of 2011 are crammed full of activities, most which are not of my initiative but involve the lives of those I love. Yesterday, I found myself a bit agitated recognizing all the loose ends which need to be tied for completion. The weather was a balmy 48 degrees and I decided to fore go some chores and take a walk. For Christmas my daughter and her husband had given me a blue iPOD Shuffle. If you aren't familiar with these technological wonders they are basically a one inch square, half inch thick, stereo which clips onto your clothes and holds hundreds of songs! Amazing! Opening the box I was excited to load songs onto it from my computer and plug in the earphones and go for a walk. Reading the directions (ah, such an informative process) I noticed the iPOD had to be plugged into an activating computer for three hours before it could be used. Disappointed, because praise music always enhances my walking pace, I set out without sound. Probably not

January 18-19 Have you made a list today? Lists instruct us, keep us organized, help us communicate needs to others, can be satisfying to check off, or can be so overwhelming they cause us to punt a project. What lists have you made the past few months? Mine amazed me. Grocery, Christmas lists (multiple types from meals, gifts, decoration needs, etc), wedding lists (too many to list), baby shower guest list, traveling directions with a list of stops along the way, packing, scripture memory, prayer, writing ideas, computer direction list, recipe, luncheon guest list, house chores, yard chores, light bulb list, and of course this list of lists! The Bible has many lists. The Ten Commandments Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), Gifts of the Spirit in various places, Qualities of a Maturing Christian So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patie

January 17 A church was using our home this weekend for a conference with the leadership from several of their church plants. The man coordinating the food was to call me. I was attempting to text my husband a three sentence long message, when half way through it my text disappeared and there was a number and a spinning thing on the screen. I hit a random button hoping it would take me back to my text message. In frustration I said out loud, "Now what?" Then to my surprise a man's voice sheepishly said, "Uh, this is Jeff calling about the food for Saturday." I was so embarrassed, somehow I had unknowingly answered an incoming call. My son and husband have teased me throughout the weekend. When I walk in the room, they will very sarcastically say, "Now what?" "Can't you just hear God when we come to him in prayer?" my husband chuckled, "Now what? Can't you see I am listening to someone else?" It's Monday Lord. No

January 15-16 Rarely do I know where the Lord is going with this devotional when I begin. At Christmas I took some photos of my grandson's feet, which have not led him into much trouble besides mud puddles, so I thought about where our feet lead us. Reflexology, the massaging of the feet, brings great relief and I've found it to have good diagnostic tendencies...much different from whatever foot fetishes are out there for a certain NFL coach, but those thoughts were dead ends. Pulling up a Biblegateway search there were 247 references to "feet"...a whole lot of foot washing going on back then and some falling at the feet of Jesus yet to be done. Then I landed upon it. Romans 10:15 How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! There is a huge difference in our responses when you see the florist at the door, than when a police officer is standing there. What a great challenge. Where can our feet appear and be a welcome sight this weekend? Faith This w

January 14 Taking my own advice yesterday, I surrendered to some time alone with the Lord. Looking at Moses on the floor I realized he had found the only streak of sunlight on the carpet and laid right in its path. I thought..."Sit in the Son's rays." Sensing a chill in the air I turned on the gas fireplace and sat in front of it. Ah, sitting by a fire allows heat (or Christ) to radiate. Looking at the flickering flames with amazement I wondered if fire astounds us because it is something we cannot do ourselves. If so, we should be astonished by Christ for the same reason. The minutes were flying by and I was enjoying the intimate time of fellowship. "Examine me from head to toe," I requested of the Lord. Feet -"Where am I going that might not be pleasing to God?" A reminder game to mind that "omission" can be a sin as well, so it is wise to question..."Where I am not willing to go?" Knees -mine are full of pain, so there

January 13 The word on my mind this morning was dilute, which means to thin, weaken, or diminish. Maybe I was dreaming about pouring apple or orange juice for our grandson, and diluting it with water. All I know is when I thought about how the word might be referenced to Christ what came to mind was the way we busy ourselves and show priority to things other than Christ. Watching the Auburn-Oregon game was priority for me Monday night. My husband and I enjoy the TV show NCIS, so don't expect us to answer the phone from 8-9 PM on Tuesday night. For some people nothing will get in the way of their exercise class or their tennis/golf time. Family night is an awesome idea, but does it come before time with the Lord? If we had a passion meter attached to our bodies which registered the amount of time we gave to the Lord each day, how often would it read empty? In our marriages we wouldn't tolerate our spouses having affairs. Hmmm, I wonder if God looks at our diluted, diminish

January 12 If you look very closely, you will see in the water what is either the head of a beaver or a muskrat. This creature has made his daily jaunts in front of our dock for a couple years now. My curiosity is always peaked when I see him, but his pace is slow and steady so I seldom watch for long. I've always assumed he is headed to an uninhabited area north of our property for some sort of daily work and then swims home at the end of the day to around ten acres SE of us which also have no home or dock. Never have I taken time to actually wait and see where he goes. Yesterday, around 3:30 looking out of my shower window I spotted him. The Holy Spirit impressed upon me how much our prayer lives can be like me watching this critter. At first our interest is peaked and we launch into a prayer time with the Lord. Usually the process progresses slowly and we lose interest, either assuming we can't really hear from the Lord or not really believing He will answer our desires

January 11 While snow and ice have been recking havoc all over the south, there are people who are stuck. Stuck in airports, stuck in their cars which have gone off the road, stuck in hotels unable to get home as is the case of some island residents near Charleston where they had to close down iced bridges. We allow ourselves to become stuck spiritually. Conditions in our lives ice up and we slide off the path God had us on or ice pellets clog our ears and keep us from hearing the Lord. PTL ice melts and we can get back on track spiritually. Faith is a huge snowplow which paves the way to more than we could ever imagine. "Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation." Andrew Murray Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen . Ephesians 3:20-21 PT Father, all power and glory is Your

January 10 Comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Hugs and hand holding lower blood pressure and reduce stress according a Headline News report I heard over the weekend. It made reference that if you don't have a human to hug, a pet makes a good substitute. I can confirm that snuggling up to Moses is a comfort...oh, yea and my husband likewise. I would be more willing to offer Moses on loan than my helpmate! Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ 1 Peter 5:14 Another way to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure is to sing praise and pray. My husband knows something is up when he hears me playing praise music on the piano. When I went into labor for the first time with our daughter, I headed right to the piano for comfort. A woman was visiting Shiloh once and had a panic attack. Her friends called me to come outside, she was turning blue. Immediately I laid hands upon her and began

January 8-9 Big, fluffy flakes of snow blew throughout the afternoon yesterday. When my husband came in later that evening he said, "We have quite a nice covering out there." Pulling up my soft Egyptian cotton blanket and a satin comforter at bedtime, I thanked the Lord for a cozy bed, awesome covers and for the example that feeling of warmth, peace and quiet is of His love for us. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4 Our grandson has blackout curtains in his room and they do an incredible job of keeping every ray of sunlight covered and from coming into his room. (Good plan by his mom for hopefully longer naps). God knew from the get go that we would need covering which provides comfort and protection, but also He knew we would need to have our sins covered. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. Psalm 85:2 As we fall at the feet of Jesus,

January 7 Going off to a quiet place to be with the Lord yesterday the song... All You Need is Love came bounding into my mind. Then immediately the verse, God is love, followed. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love . Whoever lives in love lives in God , and God in them . 1 John 4:16 The current news story of the homeless man (Ted Williams) with the golden voice is such a testimony to the difference love makes. This morning on the Today's show when they asked him why he thinks he will not fall back into this lifestyle of drugs and alcohol he replied that he has been sober for two years and the difference this time is he has learned to keep his eyes on God. He said all this media attention and the job offers have made him a bit anxious and he was talking to a psychiatrist yesterday saying he thought he needed a nerve pill. She said, "You must learn to meditate, not medicate." How priceless is your unfailing love , O God ! People take

January 6th "Do you have fleas in your naval?" a young kindergarten student asked my husband this question and then explained, "We sang a song about it... Feliz Navidad." No fleas here, but I tell you some grungies can hide down in our belly buttons and really stink if you don't clean them out. Sin starts to stink too when we don't get it out through confession. Dreadlocks remind me of unconfessed sin and the way it grows making such a mess. I am guessing the only way to get rid of the dreadlock hairdo is to shave the mess off. Sin requires a total trashing as well. When I was searching the net for a picture of dreadlocks, since some of you may be clueless to what they are, this cute girl in the picture above kept coming forth. Honestly, I was hoping for someone much sketchier looking to represent sin. Then it hit me. Sin is sneaky. It likes to come to us in a pretty wrapper appearing attractive and beneficial. How to we avoid getting fleas in our naval or s