Boojoyful

March 31-April1 Three of our children have bought their first homes this year and two others have done major remodeling. A house requires maintenance and attention. A home requires open hearts and loads of love. I cannot recall any place in the Bible where Jesus' house is referenced. He went to Matthew's house, to Peter's Levi's, a Pharisee's, Simon's, Zaccheus', and was taken to the home of the high priest. Mark 2:1 tells us he called Capernaum home, but not necessarily that he had a house. My research the past two days has brought me to the place of one of my favorite quotes: "It is not of eternal value." What is of eternal value is where we will spend eternity and the intriguing expectation that Jesus, being quite the carpenter by trade, has said he is preparing our next abode! My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? John 14:2

March 30 My husband is so observant. Coming home from work the other day he inquired why there was mud on the tires of my car. "Ugh, you caught me! I went off roading with a bunch of cute college guys, " I replied. That probably would have been better than the truth which was that we had parked our cars in the yard under large trees to protect them from a hail storm and when I backed out the ground was so wet, the tires spun and tore up the yard! He also notices every license plate and everything around us when driving. While, I am on the other hand am either praying, singing along to praise songs or checking out the clouds to see if Jesus might be coming back at any moment! As my friend Kaye use to say, "We so good 4 each otha!" The Bible describes to us a very observant heavenly Father. The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. Psalm 11:4 I the LORD search the heart and examine t...

REJECTED X March 29 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. 1 Peter 2:9-10 Want to experience rejection with raw (often raunchy) emotion then watch the TV reality show called "The Bachelor." (The Bachelorette isn't quite as emotional.) It begins with 30 women and each week the main character, who is looking for a wife" rejects a woman and sends her packing. This month of March Madness Kroger has an online basketball game. When you miss it says: "Sorry, you are not a winner." The college rejection letter comes this time of year: "We only had 4,000 spots and we are sorry to inform you there were 4,000 people we see as better than you." Putting ourselves out in the world we risk rejection every day. When we...

March 28 A message was left on our answering machine, saying a company never received payment for some materials used in our bathroom renovation. Checking our credit card bill, I called this individual back and confirmed the payment had been made by us to the supplier who contracted this company. The woman said they were denying that we had paid them. She explained it was not our fault, as her contract was with the other company not us. I said, "Could we pray about this?" The reply, "Say what?" Again, "Could we pray about this? I love the Lord and know he is able to work all things out. The gentleman who owes you the money, loves the Lord too and is a great individual." "Why certainly," she answered. "You have made my day. I am going to call him right now." And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18 Pray ...

March 27 The rains poured down this past weekend and my husband came into the kitchen and sang, "Pick 'em up a paw paw put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day." Inquisitively, I replied, "What is a paw paw?" He shrugged his shoulders and walked on. The investigation began as I learned that a paw paw is actually a fruit, grown on a tree and is native to the very area in which I live. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWr_Uj31L90 Accidentally, wanting to save the reference "What is a Paw Paw?" the question published on the blog and one of my favorite readers, who is a precious mentor and encourager, replied that a paw paw was a piece of cotton that would be picked up and placed in an apron. She said as a child she sang the song, "Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw patch." That lead me to look up the lyrics and no where in the song is the refrain, "Save it for a rainy day." Calling to my husband, I felt it important to clear up this fa...

March 26 Maybe it is mid-life that makes me pensive or maybe the monotony of loads of laundry and a stack of ironing. My husband was the recipient of a four year football scholarship at a major university and carries an appreciation for that opportunity and love for his Alma mater deep in his heart. Although, we turned in our tickets years ago, because attend our own children were participating in sporting events we wanted to attend, he remains a sportive fan. I on the other hand have wavered with age and become a "fair weather fan". When the clock is ticking down and the score isn't padded with a positive advantage, I walk out on the viewing escapade exclaiming I don't need that kind of stress in my life. Yesterday, I passed up the last end of a basketball game and took to bed changing. While shaking out sheets and fluffing pillows I thought..."Am I a fair weather follower of Christ?" When the going gets rough, the cruel comments are flung, the Lord...

March 24-25 Reading on Day 244 in Solo, The Message God's word came alive and had me fired up all day. Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure and they had questions. Jesus said, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business." Over and over, I've repeated that comment to myself....stop trying to figure things out...timing is the Father's business. He continued, "What you get is the Holy Spirit....you will then be my witnesses....to the ends of the earth. These were his LAST WORDS." From Acts 1:1-11 Of all the things we could be in life...witnesses for Christ should be our top goal. Now the "Last Word" phrase is one I will be playing out for quite some time (unless He calls me home today). I'm sure I've shared with you about my friend who was singing in the church choir when her Daddy, the minister, died in the pulpit. She ran to his side and he said to those kneeling around him, "Go quick...

From Wikipedia-Good Samaritan Stained Glass Window Church of St. Eutrope , Clermont-Ferrand March 23 Walking up our driveway (1/2 mile through the woods) to place some letters in the mail, I was startled as I came upon a doe sleeping in tall grasses right by the drive. She jumped and fortunately ran deep into the woods instead of pouncing on me! Taking a few deep breaths my heart rate slowed back to normal, before I began the steepest part of the ascent. Reaching the top, and a straight away, I saw what appeared to be a dead possum in the road. Oh, yuck, I thought. Fortunately, it was to one side and I could try to discipline myself and not look at this deceased creature. Passing by, I sensed motion in its body as it slowly raised it head. Picking up my pace I scurried past hoping it was not a rabid critter about to bite me. Making it past several yards, I glanced back and realized the animal was a cat, which had not moved. Was it injured I wondered. What should I do? Placing my letter...

March 22 Oh, Lord, what is on the agenda?" I asked myself when I awaken with the song lyrics "No, turning back" on my heart. Ransacking my brain I tried to think of situations I have been in where there was no turning back... Getting off a ski lift in Colorado and starting down a mountain on skis. Sitting on a plane and feeling the force that pushes you back during take off. Contractions squeezing across my abdomen, alerting me to the onset of labor! Publicly proclaiming my love and commitment to Christ through baptism. Investigating the hymn on my heart, I was blown away to find it was written by either Ramke W. Momin or Obed W. Momin, who are believed to be the first converts to Christianity from the Garo tribe in India. Whew, that adds some impact to the lyrics and the realization that for them, there was no turning back after deciding to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no t...

March 21 A talented balloonist took 5 skydivers up south of Atlanta. In moments a storm rushed in and quickly the balloon operator instructed the parachuters to jump. While he saved their lives, he was whisked up into the storm and killed. http://abcnews.go.com/US/missing-balloonist-died-saving-sky-divers/story?id=15954595 Enjoying a hot, hot afternoon with temperatures well into the 80's I sat on our screened porch and enjoyed the many boaters on the water. The sun shown brightly onto our porch as I sipped a glass of ice water to keep cool. Most of the boats came in and out quickly, but one moved at a much slower pace and was unusual in shape. It was a two seater, pedal driven, pontoon with a canape top. The ladies maneuvering this vessel were having a grand time. The skies were bright and sunny with fluffy white clouds in the direction they were headed, but I thought I heard a rumble of thunder. Minutes later, the winds whipped up, white caps appeared and lightening struck a...

March 20 Solo, The Message is a year long devotional that is taking me two years to complete. Day 241 thrilled my heart with the confirmation of how personable our God is. Tears had dripped down my cheeks earlier in the day, as I longed for a conversation with my girl friend who has gone ahead of me to heaven. A smile crossed my face as I read Jesus' words: " If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend (WOW) so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world cannot take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you ." John 14:15-17 The writer goes on to suggest an awesome prayer: "Make everything plain to me and remind me of all things that Jesus told the disciples and me." If God is: Omnipotent Alleluia! Fo...

Papa was more than willing to share his birthday cake with his son and grandson. Our little lady bug is all clean after her bath and ready for bed. This young man stripped down and ran and jumped in the lake! Never mind that it is still March! He swam again Sunday morning and then said, "Mama Boo, I am cold. Let's go inside and get warm by the fire." I said, "Would you like some hot chocolate?" He enthusiastically replied, "ABSOLUTELY!" March 19 The weekend was quiet. My husband and I prepared to pack it in for a couple days of March Madness (that's basketball, not a wild time at Shiloh), as we celebrated his birthday. The phone had rung earlier with our son asking if we would be available in the afternoon to Skype. Agreeing upon a time, we waited for the call...instead he and his two children appeared on our patio, having driven all the way from VA Beach. I screamed in total disbelief and was filled with joy at the sight of them...

March 17-18 When we study God's Word we need to taste it all, not just the parts we like. Walking in the neighborhood with spring bursting forth all around, I reflected on yesterday's entry on contentment. Paul's passage on contentment in Philippians chapter 4 came to mind: I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess....Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Then I asked the Lord to search my heart in regard to contentment. Interestingly, He took me to areas in which I should never be content. First, with how deeply I know him...I should always thirst for Him. Psalm 42:2 Secondly, how willing I am to...

March 16 Traveling the past two weeks, I've driven through the grandeur of neighborhoods such as Nashville's Belle Meade, Atlanta's Buckhead and the Swan House, and then drooled over the lavish yachts and beach homes of West Palm Beach, Florida. The busyness of visiting family was a good distraction to the grief that lingers deep down in my heart. Meandering back into the country side of Moneta , my husband thought it quite timely that my Bible study for that day was titled: Freedom from Want- The Burden of Discontent Lucado says: "Discontentment is a kind of prison." The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want . Psalm 23:1 "We don't "want" for any thing because nothing compares with knowing and loving him-and we trust him to meet our needs." I thirst for the living God. When can I go meet with him? Psalm 42:2 My girlfriend was the true picture of contentment. Her thoughts were always focused on others, not self. She had no desire for ...

March 15-16 The pace I've been packing the past few weeks slowed for the first time, when I flew above the clouds, a couple days ago. Looking out into the heavens the tears flooded my face as I longed for my friend who has left this earth. (The flight attendants must have thought my husband had just said something extremely hurtful to me the way I sobbed.) Driving back into the Roanoke Valley, I headed to my friend's home where her mother was dog sitting for a couple days. I knew it was going to be hard to enter that home. I'd spent a long time in Bible study during the morning and Max Lucado had supplied me with many needed truths. "God's goal is not to make you happy, his goal is to make you his. His goal is not to get you what you want, it is to get you what you need." "Worrying over our own troubles, interferes with our ability to help others with theirs." "Jesus reminds us although we must care for each other's burdens, the only way ...

March 14 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Cor. 10:13 We are to chew on the Word of God, as a cow chews on its cud. The Message puts it this way: I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it. Psalm 119:16 Yesterday, I read a morsel (quote) by Adrian Rogers and I have been chewing it over and over. "A temptation is an inducement by the devil to satisfy a legitimate desire in an illegitimate way." He goes on to call the devil a pervert and explains he has "no raw material". All the devil is able to do is take what God has created and pervert it. What we have to do is find a legitimate, Biblically based way to satisfy ...

March 12-13 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Mt.5:6 The cheesecake factory is a favorite restaurant of ours. Fortunately, for our waist lines, there is not one anywhere near home. The servings are enormous and then we have to get the cheesecake, which comes covered in FRESH whipped cream. We do not hunger for anything when we leave there. My husband's saying is "We've been to the A.T.M. (ate too much)". The Matthew verse above reminds us what we should hunger and thirst for at all times...righteousness. And the only way to get righteousness is to get Jesus. Max Lucado has a great quote..."Spiritual hunger leads us to hear our hearts rumble with emptiness and realize anew how much we miss Him (the Lord)." May we take time to sit at the table and be fed, by the one that never leaves us empty.

March 10-11 It's about that time! Daffodils are dancing and the red buds are bursting out color. The tulips and forsythia will not be far behind announcing spring is here, so clean out winter's debris and put away your woolens. A friend was telling me about the cleanse she was doing for her body and how she lost 7 pounds the first week in hopes to shed winter's fluff on her body and get ready to show a little skin in her summer duds. Tossing and turning one night the Lord's suggestion for me was a spiritual cleansing. You know...Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. I started at the beginning of the alphabet and asked the Lord to begin the search of my heart: Lord, don't let the sun go down on my anger, if there is any & help me to lay all anxiety down. If bitterness has crept into my heart vacuum it out quickly for it breeds su...

March 9 If you listed the top ten areas of uncertainty in your life right now, what would they be...the weather, where your next job will be, the day you will go into labor, which college is going to accept you, when your house will finally sell, whether your flight will be on time.....? A friend emailed this Billy Graham story...not sure if it is true, but it is a good one on of what you can be certain. GRAHAM'S SUIT Billy Graham is now 91-years-old with Parkinson's disease. In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte , North Carolina , invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, 'We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.' So he agreed. After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstei...

March 8 Is there some written rule of etiquette that upon entering an elevator you are not to speak, smile, touch, or make eye contact with anyone else? Years ago I noticed this and have made a conscious effort ever since to break such rule if it exists. I totally believe it is a tactic of the devil to get us to disconnect from one another. If he can get us to limit our sharing, caring and commitment to one another there is less opportunity for others to feel the love of Christ. The epidemic infiltrates our homes and family lives as well. A young mother told me they were out to dinner and in the same restaurant was a family of four and each individual was focused on an electronic device. (Phone, ipod, ipad) She was shocked. What does your dinner table look like? Are televisions, phones, computers, or even homework adorning the table and distracting verbal communication from taking place? The pace and regulations of our school/job may keep us from these enticing gadgets, geared to fill ...

March 7 The humanness in me wants to move on to happy topics, but my spirit knows I am still grieving and where God has me in my Bible study is no coincidence. I feel I need to be honest with what He is leading me to share. So often you share that what I write is exactly where you are and you appreciate my honesty, so I will be vulnerable and honest. Back in January I picked up a Bible study workbook I found in a drawer in our living room. The copyright date is 2003 and it has probably been in my drawer for nine years. I have not been disciplined to do the work daily...true confession - when I picked it back up yesterday I was only on Lesson Two, Day Four. Two weeks ago when my girlfriend was nearing the end of her earthly life, the only lesson I completed was titled "Doubtstorms." Quotes by Max Lucado like.... "It is hard to see God through our pain." "Most of us know what it means to feel disappointed by God." "We may feel like God has forgotten...

March 6 One of our grandsons stayed with us last week (God knew I needed a cuddly comforter). Now that he can crawl, he is on the move and has a heart for exploration. We had to watch him like a hawk. While preparing his breakfast one morning, I turned around to find that my husband had attached the dog leash to the back of his pjs. Pretty funny....hmmm, doesn't look like our little fellow is laughing. Why didn't God just put each of us on a leash, so he could give us a tug when we neared danger(sin)? Why when there was a man like Job, who lived like he was totally connected to God and was able to say... “But he knows where I am and what I've done. He can cross-examine me all he wants, and I'll pass the test with honors. I've followed him closely, my feet in his footprints, not once swerving from his way. I've obeyed every word he's spoken, and not just obeyed his advice—I've treasured it.” Job 23:10-11 MSG ...why did Job still suffer? We look at suffe...

March 5 This is such a God thing! The other day I was outside on our screened porch digging deeply in the Word. Towards the end of an amazing time with the Lord, He said, "Shout hallelujah." Well, one of our sons was home and I knew his bedroom door was open right below me, also there was a fisherman in a boat and construction workers across the cove and sound does travel over water, so I was feeling rather timid. My compromise was to quietly say, "Hallelujah." I think God cleared his throat and said, "My command was shout. " So I raised the volume of my voice slightly and said, "Hallelujah." I still was wandering in disobedience. By this time my husband had arrived home from work and was getting out of his car. I gave the quickest shout of "hallelujah" I could muster up and ran in the house. So wherever you are, stop and think about how much God loves you. The next day I received this email from God-tube. Check out the chicki...

Sorry, not sure why this didn't publish over the weekend. March 3-4 God does make me smile. I was evading Bible study and breaking a firm rule of mine to never go to Facebook or Pinterest until after my time with the Lord. He placed on my mind this song from Parent Trap and lured me back to Him and my senses! Let's get together, yeah yeah yeah. Why don't you and I combine? Let's get together, what do you say? We can have a swinging time. We'd be a crazy team. Why don't we make a scene? Together. If we want to hear from the Lord, we must to go to him and position ourselves in a way we can receive him. I think that starts with being still and knowing He is God and confessing we are not like Him and in need of forgiveness. We open up opportunities for him to speak by going to His Word. Since today's date is the 3rd. Nibble on Psalm 3. A friend called the other day and said this Psalm has been carrying she and her husband through some tough times. She kn...

March 2 Cock-a-doodle-doo, Peter blew it and he knew it. When it came to his relationship with Jesus, Peter had walked with him, he had talked with him; he'd been with him through calm seas and rough rugged waters. Peter had seen the miracles first hand and felt the love, yet when the going got tough, Peter's love commitment wavered and he had short term memory loss and was ready to take a hike. Reflect on what happened in Mark 14:66-72 While all this was going on, Peter was down in the courtyard. One of the Chief Priest's servant girls came in and, seeing Peter warming himself there, looked hard at him and said, "You were with the Nazarene, Jesus." He denied it: "I don't know what you're talking about." He went out on the porch. A rooster crowed. The girl spotted him and began telling the people standing around, "He's one of them." He denied it again. After a little while, the bystanders brought it up again. "You've got to...

March 1 My plan was to start fresh this month with something simple or even take a break from writing, thinking that might help the grief I am experiencing over the loss of my friend. I've found such comfort in this journey of life in trusting the Spirit to lead, when I stay in the Word and today what I've been given is the perfect follow up to the dynamic worship experience at her memorial service yesterday. The service began with the handsome young son of her cousin strumming his guitar and singing "I Can Only Imagine." Not only was his voice melodic, his countenance and composure came straight from God. When he sang the refrain... Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all I wanted to shout out...she sang "hallelujah"! It ended with another joy filled cousin, who always made my friend...