Boojoyful

May 31 There are times when a picture paints a thousand words. Whose love do you long for? There is nothing like the love of our heavenly Father. These pictures of our granddaughter awaiting her Daddy coming home are heartwarming. Her love thrilled his heart, as much as his embrace fulfilled her. We should look at our relationship with God this way.

May 30 Max Lucado really fired me up in his final chapter of Experiencing the Heart of Jesus when he said, "We are so good at waiting, that we don't wait forwardly.  We forget to look.  We are so patient that we become complacent.  We are too content.  We seldom search the skies.  We rarely run to the temple.  We seldom, if ever allow the Holy Spirit to interrupt our plans and lead us to worship so that we might see Jesus. You should live holy lives and serve God, as you wait for and look forward to the coming of the day of God.  2 Peter 3:11-12 Think about Simeon.    Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God: 'Now Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace, as you said.'  Luke 2:28-29 Lucado wrote: "One look into the face of Jesus, and Simeon knew it was time to go home. And one look into the face of our Savior, and we will know the same." That is down right exciting!!!!! Makes me think of a middle school ch...

May 29 "I love you."  The text came across my phone Sunday night...short. sweet and unexpected from a thirty year old son.  My fingers texted back.... "Are you ok?"  He wasn't.  One of his best Army friends had taken his own life on Friday.  Our son stayed with the wife and three children until her parents arrived Sunday morning. An explanation from another view point followed. "While most people are celebrating Memorial Day and rejoicing with thanksgiving for the sacrifice so many men and women have made for our freedom, this holiday brings heartache to soldiers whose are overwhelmed by the memories of what they have seen." I can honestly say that I have never looked at this holiday from that perspective and also that while I pray fervently for the protection of our service men and women, I don't pray for the protection of their minds from all that they have seen and that torments them. Proverbs 28:16-18 speaks of the guilt of murderers tha...

May 28   For the   LORD   Most High is awesome, the great King   over   all   the earth. Psalm 47:2 For years my maternal uniform was decking out in a pair of Joseph (designer of course) overalls.  I think it drove my mother, who dressed impeccably,  nuts. Come on, they weren't all denim.  Two were linen and the navy ones were...VELVET!  They worked for me though.  They were easy to nurse in...just drop one strap and pull up the shirt underneath, the seven pockets allowed me to carry children and not a purse (credit card in one, diaper in another, snacks, tissues, car keys and even a nice skinny center pocket perfect for a pen and the ones on other side for a note pad).  We did not have cell phones back then, but there was room for one!  :) Why do I still have all these though.  Some things are hard to part with.  Today I will box them up and store them under the bed....a gradual separation.  As I lo...

May 26-27 We have a screened porch off our bedroom.  Moses was out there snoozing and pushed the door open and came into the bedroom.  Suddenly, I heard a loud noise and thought an owl was on the porch. It wasn't hooting, but cooing.  Two doves sat perched on the spiral stair rail cooing away.  Sometimes the simplest joys bring a smile.

May 25 On the outset of this entry, let me say that I in no way think this 55 year old body of mine is anything like Marilyn Monroe's.  Also, let me confess that yes, I did watch the series "SMASH" this winter and though full of sinful lifestyles (I too am a sinner by the way) I gained lots of insight into the process of making a Broadway musical. Now back on track to the colorful lesson at hand.  Last weekend I had contemplated putting on my swimsuit to go sit out on the dock and get some sun.  In the process I realized I was not going in the water and instead just put on my sheer, blue, broomstick skirt and a bra and blouse.  The key here is that is all I put on.  Enjoying the privacy of our patio here at Shiloh I was deep into my Bible study when I heard the "beep, beep" of a pontoon boat passing by and recognized dear, dear friends aboard.  My husband, nursing his allergies, was inside but came to the window.  I motioned for him to come out a...

May 24 I thoroughly enjoyed watching this season of Dancing With the Stars.   To those who see the show as a stumbling block, please forgive me.  My three favorites, because of their character, were Gladys Knight, Katherine Jenkins and Donald Driver.    While the other finalist, William, was gorgeous on the outside, it was the inner beauty of the others which captivated me and had me pulling for them.  Katherine, a Welsh lyric mezzo-soprano, was undoubtably the most talented, but there was something about Donald, the professional football player, that made him my first choice.  He exuded strength, yet there was a kindness and joy about him.  I finally decided it was probably his sweet wife and adorable children cheering in the audience that drew me to him.  When his wife took the floor, after the victory, and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him it made me smile.  Then when his baby girl nuzzled into his neck I liked him e...

Greet one another with a holy kiss.  2 Corinthians 13:12 Taking a long walk the other day, my plan had been to listen to the radio, but the cicadas must have been creating interference, because the station would not come through, so I listen to Jesus.  Approaching this time with him appropriately, I began with praise and ventured into confession and chatting over two logs that need to come out of my own eye! There is always a sense of refreshment after repentance.  There was a little spark in my step, as I experienced the freedom that forgiveness brings. Immediately, I realized there was a test before me. Way off in the distance I could see another walker coming towards me...funny...the road is named "Gangplank" and it was if God was going to have me walk the plank.  I felt him say, "If I asked you to greet this person with a holy kiss, would you?"  "A total stranger, you've got to be kidding me Lord.," I replied.  "Are you an obe...

COMPLETE May 22 The start of a school year is so exciting, but the end of the year is a welcome sight as well!  A disciplined Bible study produces a similar pattern.  Sunday, I completed the 10 week Experiencing the Heart of Jesus  study by Max Lucado.  There was a sense of accomplishment, in spiritual growth, as the closing words crossed my mind.  "For the sake of what was ahead of him, for the hope of what he knew was coming, Jesus endured everything that life could throw at him." Reflecting on that completion, I couldn't help but think about the day of our completion and how we will feel when we see Christ face to face. ...because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day   until now,   being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion   until the day of Christ Jesus.   Philippians 1:5-6 Our prayer lists are full of needed "completions". Just this morning I prayed for: ...

May 21 You've heard it said, "Be careful what you ask for."  My husband is certain that thirty-two years ago we prayed for patience and God sent six children in eight years to teach us patience.  My mother had a friend who always said at the end of her prayer, "...but whatever your will God." Elijah was so depressed by Jezebel's threat that he prayed to die.  I've been to that point and done that too. Sharing those feelings with a friend, she laughed and said, "Good luck with that. I don't think he's finished with you yet here on earth." While we are told to ask and keep knocking,  James 4:3 speaks of asking amiss  and not receiving. For two years we looked for a lake home.  God placed before us not only a home, but a place for ministry that would bring him glory. He led us to do radical things like a Bible Boat, a yard church and scripture trails.  Believe me those were not things on our list those two years looking for...

May 19-20 Greeting God this morning, while still in snooze mode, I asked for a little insight into what the future holds.  A rather simplistic reply came: "Be kind, be compassionate." Hmm, not exactly what I was looking for, but definitely identifiable as the Lord and excellent advice for whatever we might encounter next.   On Revive Our Hearts radio program this week the emphasis has been on revival in our lives.  On the May 17th show Laine Johnson tapped into the idea that when God draws us to himself, there will often be an intellectual and emotional component.  "We think about God’s truth, and we experience Him." I thought he did a good job of encouraging people to experience  a passionate relationship with the Lord. Johnson said: "Whenever God works, it is experiential.    I think that we have a little bit of the unnecessary dichotomy in our Western culture because we’re a very rational people. Eastern culture is much more experien...

May 18 As I shared earlier, it has been a difficult week, but Jesus has been there, being strong, all along.  Sitting out on the screen porch, perched in my tree house like setting...Moses and I snuggled up for a little Bible Study.  Ending week nine of Max Lucado's Experiencing the Heart of Jesus ,   the timing was perfect, the words floated off page 206 as if they had been personally left there for me. Their original intent was for the disciples. These words allow us to feel the heart of Christ. "It was as if Jesus knew how difficult the next days would be for the disciples.  He would have to leave them soon.  They would be plunged into fear, confusion, disbelief, pain, grief, desolation.  They didn't really understand what lay ahead, even though Jesus tried to prepare them.  So Jesus prayed for them.  He gathered his followers together, and he prayed aloud for each of them. 'These men are mine.  I have kept them safe. Protect them wh...

May 17 Sitting on the dock yesterday afternoon was far from relaxing.  Evidently, some swallows/sparrows have built a nest close by and they were in full force literally dive bombing us.  I was smacking my shoes together to try to scare them off, my husband donned a long handled fishing net, while our son and his fiance sat by laughing! On a more serious note, I felt like bad new has been dive bombing us this week.  My instincts have been to hide under the covers and not come out, but the more effective course of action is to praise and pray without ceasing.  Three of these stories have blog sites to connect to if you would like to pray and follow them. After some time, trusting in the Lord this morning, I have recalled how God works all things together for good for those who love Him.  I've decided to share these stories sensing that there are connections to be made between people and encouragement that can happen. Before I do that, I want to share another "...

Don't even ask about the duct tape on the toilet...that is another devo somewhere in time.  This is the only toilet picture I had on my computer and I am too tired to take another one.  I really wanted a picture of a beautiful pitcher of lemonade.  Maybe later after the Holy Spirit does his thing. May 16 Every study I have done the past four days has made reference to the importance of daily calling out for the filling of the Holy Spirit. This morning I've awakened emotionally exhausted...it has to be because I have been trying to encourage and pray for some precious friends and several family members in my own strength, who are up against HUGE medical obstacles. Add to that our home being hit by lightening night before last, knocking out our phones, a fountain on our patio and frying our security system and I need a better power source than myself. Jack Hyles, a great preacher, said, “There is no life so empty as a self-centered life, and there is no life so center...

May 15 In the Max Lucado Bible study I am doing the current chapter is on prayer.  Praying to our Father who art in heaven.  Lucado says, "He occupies another dimension."  And he reminds readers of Isaiah 55:8-9. My thoughts are not like your thoughts.  Your ways are not like my ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. The next paragraph from "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus" is quite thought provoking as to how different our thoughts are. "Make special note of the word like .  God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are they even like ours.  We aren't even in the same neighborhood.  We're thinking, Preserve the body;  he's thinking Save the soul.  We dream of a pay raise. He dreams of raising the dead.  We avoid pain and seek peace. God uses pain to bring peace. "I'm going to live before I die," we resolve. "Die, so you can ...

Yesterday, our sweet Moses' celebrated his ninth birthday.  That's a lot of years for a bulldog. We both looked younger in this shot!  He has rallied around as one of the boys....  napped on the couch often with Pop...  guarded Shiloh with dignity...  been the first to welcome many a guest...  withstood all the antics the grandchildren have dished out... and even participated in dress up! While he is slowing down, so are we...so it is still a good fit! May 14 Princess, Chico, Champagne, Brandy, Posey, Cozy, Baloo, Spirit, Patience, Kindness, Truth and Moses are the names of the dogs I can remember, who have been entrusted to my care.  Our children have added, Bo, Precious, Piper, Tiger, Bear, Lucy, and Scottie over the years to come and trounce around Shiloh. These creatures have added joy, laughter, camaraderie and a little extra work and expense to our lives. Just yesterday we discussed in amazement the div...

A Mother's Photo Reflection I've prayed over this wild gang a long time!  Good times were had! These fellows have stuck together over the years! And some how our daughter managed to stay very feminine. And was very thankful when God finally sent her a sister! May 12-13 Happy Mother's Day to those of you who are mothers, those who are about to become mothers and to some very special people who have mothered without having children of their own.  May this song bless you today and would you think of some children to be the recipients of such a prayer. I spoke with a friend this week who was grieving, because she came to know the Lord later in life and didn't have the opportunity to train up her children in the way of the Lord when they were young.  She is passionate for Christ now.  Her children see the transformation, her grandchildren are the cherished recipients of her loving touch and praye...