Boojoyful

September 30 Noticing details is not a forte of mine. If I came to visit you I wouldn't remember what you were wearing or the color of your living room, but I would remember what you had on your heart as concerns. Pounding the pavement for the past 10 years in the same neighborhood, it was not until this week I connected the theme of the street names. Windlass, Gangplank, Anchor, Galley, Freeboard, etc...all nautical terms. Visiting our son and daughter-in-law's church in Minnesota, my son warned me there would be Viking's jerseys worn in church by adults as well as the children. These fans are serious about their football. I can only imagine the decor of some of their homes. Yes, we relate with the sports theme craze; there is a Carolina blue bedroom at our house and our decorative bear is donning my husband's 1974 UNC football jersey right now! Think about various people you know...what would you say the themes of their lives are? We have neighbors who have a pas...

Two in a bed warm each other. Ecclesiastes 4:11 But if you don't have an extra body around a stack of pillows and a down comforter work wonders. September 29 I sleep much better with my husband's warm body up against me. Being quite the early riser...like 4AM....he has compassion on me and packs pillows up against my body, before he gets out of bed. It fakes me out every time and I sincerely appreciate the gesture. 1 & 2 Timothy and 2 Peter have some excellent warnings about fake/false teaching. In Paul's day there was deception; it too is prevalent today. The FDA requires food labels on all products to alert us as to what we are putting into our bodies. The Bible, applied to our personal wisdom and discernment, is available to us as a measuring tool for inspecting what we are putting into our souls and what our schools/media are putting into the minds of our children. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among y...

Hoola, a South Carolina rescue. Moses and his cousin, Scottie, a rescue from Alabama. Lucy, a puggle from our past, and a doberman rescue attending Moses' 5th birthday party. September 28 While taking a walk the other day in the air which gave a glimpse of autumn, I came upon a man and his two dogs. Living in a retirement community, I've learned that showing genuine interest in the animals of my neighbors is a quick entrance to the door of friendship. I inquire as to the names of the canines, before I do ask for an introduction to the masters. This particular pair, Pipi and Cosmos, were introduced to me as "rescues". A lightbulb thought went off, as I meandered on up the hill..."When we except Christ's atonement for our sins....we are rescued. The next time someone asks us to tell them a little about ourselves we can say, "I'm a rescue!" For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a m...

September 27 One of our adopted grandsons has earned the privilege of starting quarterback (as only a sophomore) at a large public school in SC. He is a precious young man who loves the Lord and has a humble heart. Watching him perform, I began thinking about God quarterbacking our lives. He has a play (a plan). He takes the field and is looking for good receivers to carry out the play (plan). We need to have our eyes open, be in a good position, and trust Him to deliver! There isn't a victory or even a score every time, so we need to persevere. Losses occur and pain is inflicted, but we trust our coach. On the sidelines there are teammates to assist us and in the stands are people who are cheering for us and those who are sneering at us. At the game's ending, we evaluate the performance, learn from our mistakes, go back for more coaching and training for what is to come next! God has plans for us. Whether we receive them or not is our choice They might involve going t...

September 26 The message at the end of this video is so true. http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KKPWY7NX&utm_source=GodTube%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09/26/2011 Friday I heard a message on the radio about “coming out of the darkness”. I can’t remember the verse or to whom we were listening. Searching the scriptures I did come across this passage in Isaiah which is quite appropriate for the battle being fought against darkness. Also the 1 Peter verse is a powerful reminder of who we are! . Isaiah 49:8-10 Restoration of Israel This is what the LORD says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the ...

September 24- Friday was our 33rd wedding anniversary! w00t! I do love my man. This month I've been blessed to witness the powerful passionate love of two widowers. One is my father, who is 91. September 16th marked his wedding anniversary. My mother died over 11 years ago and her picture is still in a magnet on his refrigerator, framed nicely on his desk and stacked neatly on his living room coffee table are years of memories adorning several albums which he compiled. To sit beside him and have him share of their first dates, early years of marriage and travels together can most easily be described as a "feel good" moment! Often I've watched the eyes of others sitting beside him, listening to the tales he tells, and you can almost hear their hearts say, "I want a love like that!" While in Minneapolis last weekend, I visited a spunky 89 year old widower, whom I had met last October in The Apple Store. Yes, we were both acquiring assistance with our new MACs!...

September 23 Suffering from severe dizziness the past week has taken a toil on my spunk level. Yesterday morning was awful. I had some early morning errands to run and came home with my eyes and head hurting as well as being dizzy. Jesus Calling, is one of the daily devotionals I am enjoying currently and I was in disbelief as I read the opening message. What a personal hug from God, revealing how He knows every hair on my head and every dizzy spell I encounter! "Trust Me and refuse to worry, for I am your Strength and Song. You are feeling WOBBLY this morning!!!" That is what I call a personal God! One of the scripture references had just as much of a personal punch! Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 A friend stopped in during the afternoon and convinced me she should take me to the Urgent Care. After a three hour wait, the doctor explained that I had unequal amounts of fluid built up in my ears causing th...

September 22 One of the butchers at our local grocery store told me I looked really nice the other day. Jokingly, I said, "Does that mean I don't look nice most of the time when I come in here?" Probably, due to laziness, I've become an every other day shampooer. In the summer that is a little more difficult, having a wet head from lake swims. I used to run a load of something in the wash about every day, but now trying to be more conservative it is more like every three days. Watering our outdoor veggies, running the dishwasher, the sweeping of the front steps and a list of other chores are rather cyclical and not done on a daily basis and we seem to get by. One area we need not compromise a daily commitment to is our quiet time with the Lord and having our nose in the Word. The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you. 2 Corinthians 13:14 MSG Keep this Book of the Law...

September 21 The other day the word "keeper" resounded over and over in my mind. "What am I the keeper of?" I pondered. Great memories, others' secrets, a houseful of items, a covenant marriage with a really cute husband, an adorable bulldog, a relationship with Christ.... In the neighborhood where I walk, the majority of the other walkers are walking their dogs...(Moses, our bulldog, isn't into long walks, so he sits in our car and watches everyone). Heading to the scriptures, to check out the word "keeper" my thoughts were drown to how our dogs feel about us. They totally trust us to provide, protect, play and promote a good life for them. Praise God, in Him we have a Keeper who does the same for us! "My help comes from the Lord Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper.... He shall preserve yo...

September 20 Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. Joel 2:23 Heading out for a drizzly walk with my girlfriend I asked her how long she wanted to keep going. She said, "I am ok, until it soaks through." Entering our home and readying myself for some quiet time, I thought, "Lord, let me sit here until You soak through me." Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God— That's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing. Proverbs 23:17

September 19 Hearing this song by Mikeschair for the first time this morning, I was moved by a simple truth which we seldom consider....each of us is someone Jesus sees as worth dying for. That my friend, is powerful, passionate love! I hope this Godtube link works. http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FF201MNU How much fun to make up a business card with this chorus on one side and on the other side the phrase.."You are valuable" and a scripture such as: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst . 1 Timothy 1:15 Here are the song lyrics to Someone Worth Dying For . You might be the wife, Waiting up at night You might be the man, Struggling to provide Feeling like it's hopeless Maybe you're the son, Who chose a broken road Maybe you're the girl, Thinking you...

Fort Benning Cord Ceremony September 17-18 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete , not lacking anything. James 1:4 When I first began to bake I had one of those long skinny cake testers to stick into the baked good and see if it was "done". At some point the technique transferred to the ole poke of the index finger to see if the top of the cake or bread springs back came into play. When our son entered the Army, he began a series of tests along with thousands of other men and women to see if they were "done" ... ready for the next level of responsibility of protecting our nation. We are in a training/transformation process here on earth. Often we feel as if we are being cooked or rather boiled and grilled at times, but we are to rejoice and remember it is a process and there is a ceremony awaiting us when we reach completion! Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know ...

September 16 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 Walking up our 1/2 mile long driveway yesterday, I was enjoying the tranquility of mountain life. A young turtle was crossing the road before me, as was a large, fat, maroon worm the likes of which I had never seen before. The efforts these two sluggards made, spurred me on as I walked on the steepest incline of my journey to our mailbox. Retrieving our mail and starting back down I was startled by the screams of woodland creatures. The intensity of the hullabaloo, which was happening, stopped me in my tracks. On and on this ruckus continued, the shrillness of the cries sending shivers up my spine. I had my cell phone with me and tried to call my husband, hoping to have him on the line with me as I walked on towards this mayhem. (I know, God could do a lot more for me than a husband 35 minutes away...my bad.) No answer from my husband, so I mentally put on the armor of the Lord and proceeded down the road. S...

September 15 A $500 gift certificate, which we had received, had been misplaced and for two days I searched frantically. In the process, the Lord said, "You don't look for me with such urgency." Whew, I thought...Christ is worth so much more than $500..he is more precious than silver, his sacrifice more costly than gold. What is it we are looking for today? What is it that we treasure? ... indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:3-5 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowle...

September 14 Each day we should take time to simply walk with God and get to know Him and allow Him to search our hearts. For it is in becoming familiar with Him in this way, that on the days we need him to carry us we will trust Him and cry out." Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry out , and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Look closely to see the spider and the web. September 13 The Persistence of a Spider provides the strength of this web. Feeling frustrated and unplugged in general, I cried out to the Lord. One specific request was for my husband to initiate a date. As parents and partners, we can see the most improvement in those platforms if we process the procedure through prayer! By the time I walked from our dock, where I had been journaling, to the house and my computer there was an email from my spouse inviting me to take a picnic on our pontoon with him that evening. Why don't we pray more often! It was an enchanting evening as we launched to the song "Moonriver" (the name of our street) playing on a CD. Cutting the motor at a location with multiple mountain views, the sun set in the west and the moon taking its position high overhead, we kicked back and relaxed. After dinner, we were just lounging together and I looked up to see one of the busiest spiders I've ever seen...

September 12 When the triple, and sometimes even quadruple whammy happens with a scriptural theme, I know I am supposed to listen and usually blog about it! The Lord has my head spinning like a tea cup this morning from what He fed me yesterday and then bopped me over the head with repeatedly this morning. I flash back twenty-eight years ago when my husband came to know the Lord and said to me one day, "I love Jesus more than anyone." Jump back Jack! Wait, you just met him and you love him more than you love me? I was offended at first, then a bit jealous for that fresh love for Christ and knowing Jesus has to be our "first love" for the relationship to work. But you walked away from your first love—why? What's going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you've fallen? A Lucifer fall! "Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle. Revelation 2:4-5 The ...

September 10-11 On the 8 th , I was looking up verses on blindness and yesterday in Secrets of the Secret Place there was a continuance of that theme on eyesight. Reading in Luke 11:33-36, Jesus speaks of our bodies as either filled with light or darkness. "Guard your eyes, dearly beloved. Give your eyes to reading His Word and beholding His face." Anoint your eyes with with eye salve, that you may see. Revelation 3:18 "Eye salve is the application of the scriptural disciplines-fasting, praying, study of Scripture, almsgiving , forgiving, etc. When your body is filled with light, you will know greater victory over bodily sins, you will touch deeper dimensions of intimacy with Jesus, and you will be granted a place of greater influence on the body of Christ." There is a secular song called "I Can See Clearly Now " I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind It’s gonna be a bright ...

September 9 A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 9-9-88 I gave birth for the sixth and final time! One day this summer that baby became a CPA and then was married two days later! We trained him up in the ways God wants him to go and now he and the Lord will work out the path. As parents watching the lives of our children unfold is much easier when we trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding, but in all of our ways acknowledge who God is and watch him make straight paths for His children. Happy Birthday, Baby!