Boojoyful

October 31 James MacDonald's devotional today on OurJourneyOnline@WalkintheWord.com  fits right in with the study on Jonah.  He references these verses for consideration when we are in the decision making process. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.   Proverbs 16:25 If you don't believe this watch today's Godtube and the story of Ananias and Sapphira.  http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=9291JMNU Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.   Proverbs 3:7 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.   Proverbs 4:26 When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.   Proverbs 16:9 The story of Jonah closes out rather realistically.   But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry...'Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me...

As Pooh Bear would say, "It is a blustery day."  29,000 in our county and the one next to us are already out of power.  The devastation up the coast and what is occurring to our neighbors in W VA is shocking.  Once again, as a nation, we turn our prayers to the Lord for deliverance. The blog site is telling me I am overloaded with photos and need to buy more space at a yearly rate.  Bear with me while I figure out how to delete old photos and avoid purchasing this service.  The possibility of loosing power today is great, so if you don't hear from me you know we are sitting by the fire listening to our transistor radio.  :) October 30 Who knows?  God may yet relent and with compassion  turn from his fierce anger so that will will not perish.    Jonah 3:9   Do you ever come across a passage and read it over and over again?  Jonah chapter three has sucked me in for some reason.  Ten short verses have it fille...

October 29 Hurricane Sandy is strutting her stuff and is going to try to blow us away.  The dock umbrellas are down, the furniture stacked, my husband made a grocery run for non-perishable food that does not need cooking and we are praying for no trees to fall here at Shiloh.  High wind gusts flipped a tractor trailer this morning, which was trying to make its way across the mountains on I-77. Many trees have dropped their leaves.  Some, like the crape myrtle in the photograph are shaking their brilliant tail feathers. Others leaves have turned brown but are still hanging on.  We've often wondered about these trees and found our answer last week in a devotional.  I believe it was written by Adrain Rogers. Let Your New Life Push Out the Old! “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 Our eyes delight to see those trees in autumn which turn glorious colors...

(Was going to post me in the nightie, but not appropriate.) October 27-28 After just breaking an egg into the frying pan, Moses (our bulldog) barked to go outside.  Barefoot and still in my nightie, I stepped out the door.  Forgetting we have a temporary doorknob on the front door, which locks behind you, I closed the door.  It wasn't until we headed back in I realized what I had done.  First I gave thanks we live on 5 acres and no neighbors can see me close up.  I thought there was an extra key to another door hidden in the garage, but first my bare feet would have to oooow and ouch along the gravel driveway.  Starting to grumble about the way the day was starting, I thought... "This is better than being in the belly of a fish!" Staying in the Word helps put life into perspective. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,  baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.   Matthew 28:19 Jonah, ...

 Fall is beginning to fade away way too quickly.  Winter is supposed to whisk in next week. October 26 Jonah willing let the sailors toss him overboard. He recognized his guilt and was ready to receive the consequences.  Shirer lists four steps for reconciling with God. 1. Acknowledge our sin 2. Accept God's discipline 3. Ask for forgiveness 4. Act on God's direction Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish. Jonah 2:1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, arise, go to Nineveh. So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Jonah 3:1-3 We serve a God of second chances (look at Jonah, David, Sarah, Aaron, Peter, and ME) and we walk a walk in which we can see the magnificent work by the Holy Spirit.  It is interesting to me that Jonah was spit out of the great fish back near Joppa, his starting point.  Wouldn't it have been easier if he had landed in Nineve...

This child of ours could sleep anywhere when he was young.  Even with siblings on top of him. Still into adulthood and now...  fatherhood, he can snap a nap! October 25 Although I'm still in chapter one of Jonah, the action is escalating.  We will see how, as Shirer puts it, "God had even orchestrated Jonah's life, Jonah's rebellion, and Jonah's consequences so that they would be tools needed to convert sinners.  The storm created by Jonah's rebellion was the perfect backdrop for them to meet the one true God, the One who governed the sea." But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down, and fallen sound asleep. Jonah 1:5 The story of Jonah is one I began hearing as a child in Sunday School, but up to this point I don't believe I've ever studied the aspect of Jonah sleeping through the severe storm.  The captain of the ship had to rouse Jonah, while everyone else was up and in a panic.  The author shares va...

October 24 Here's an aside...from Jonah, but actually rather related in the area of disobedience. Hope this youtube link makes you laugh today. It came from my dear friend Bob, in Minneapolis. http://www.youtube.com/embed/9wm-Ge8LL7o?rel=0 If that didn't bring you a bit of laughter,  maybe our grandson as a frog on a log will bring joy to your day. I started the Jonah study to support a friend, who is doing the study.  Another friend had the workbook (already completed) and loaned it to me.  In week two there is this question: "Right now is the knowledge of God's ubiquitous presence comforting or discomforting to you?  Why?"  She answered "comforting" because "I am not running-I don't think".  I appreciate her "I don't think" honesty.  The same response crossed my mind,  but it was revealed to me that was  WRONG. God used the friend ...

Kevin!  Fly the friendly skies with him!  October 23 Chapter Two of the Jonah study is titled “On the Run”.  Whew, that is what I was as I traveled from Minneapolis back to Moneta yesterday.  The flight out of Minneapolis was delayed almost two hours.  I had 12 minutes in Chicago to get from one terminal by shuttle bus to another terminal.  Fortunately, the second flight was delayed 2 hours as well, but during the wait it changed gates three times!  Should have worn my tennis shoes and not the cute ones that have left me with blisters on both feet.   Flying into Roanoke,VA you are usually on what I call a “puddle jumper” and you fly out of gates, which have flights A, B, C, & D leaving from that one gate.  It was a mad house at O'Hara.  There were no seats available in the gate area, as there were 8 -12 flights waiting to leave in that two hour period.  Many people did not speak English and the announcements w...

 All creatures great and small are God's handiwork.  These baby blues are His handiwork. The mountains and the sea are His handiwork. YOU are his handiwork! October 22 Presently, I am in a study on Jonah by Priscilla Shirer.  Jonah 1:1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah... From there Shirer makes the truthful statement "I hate to be interrupted."  During this political season there are certainly a lot of interruptions.  I was up in our loft area playing with my grandson the other day and the phone rang.  The descent from the loft is a bit challenging...ladder like.  Most likely by the time I would make it to the phone it would have stopped ringing, but in the back of my mind I wondered if it was one of our children needing something.  Being the landline the odds were greater it was a political survey, so I ignored the interruption.   We learn from Jonah, when God speaks and redirects, it is best to not ignore the interr...

October 20-21 Hosanna by Hillsong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ajFnnKFivY The lyrics from this song were singing in my heart, before I even opened my eyes this morning. Heal my heart and make it clean Open up my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to love like You have loved me Break my heart for what breaks Yours Everything I am, for Your kingdom's cause As I walk from earth into eternity This needs to be printed off and posted in my house for me to read each day.   Another really Kool thing happened as I began my morning prayers.  Often my initial acknowledgment and greeting is to "Lord", others times "Father" or "God" and sometimes "Sweet Jesus".  After saying "Lord" this morning the nicknames kept flowing...Lover of my Soul, Provider, Sustainer, The One Who Makes My Heart Sing.  When we call out to God do we remember he is our Creator in whose image we were made, The One Who Hung the Stars, R...

 Moses dressed for his first viewing of Charlotte's Web. A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 October 19 Fortunately, since our library only had the movie Charlotte's Web in that format, we still have a VCR. Early on in the film my grandson and I were dancing around to the chipper, pick me up song, sung by Charlotte titled: "Chin Up". Lyrics: "Chin up, chin up. Everybody loves a happy face Wear it, share it. It'll brighten up the darkest place Twinkle, sparkle Let a little sunshine in You'll be on the right side Looking at the bright side Up with your chinny chin, chin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHtjYTM64Jo This happy tune alines well with Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. When Charlotte died I wanted to sob, but I didn't want to upset my sweet little buddy. Uncontrollable tears poured down my cheeks, but I held in the sobs. My surprising response to t...

We fished with imaginary stick fishing poles...  pretended trash we pulled from the lake was treasure...  ate ice cream until he got a brain freeze at the local creamery...  fed hotdog buns to Rufus the calf, two fat sheep, 2 billy goats and 1 BULLY goat.  Then we drove to a hillside and sat and watched heavy equipment grade the land. An important safety lesson was learned as we found a flattened, baby, lizard on the garage floor. His mama must not have taught him to stay clear of moving cars.  Coming back home we did the laundry and snuggled in the warm clothes from the dryer!  The evening was magical as we sat by the fire, under the stars wrapped up in a blanket and ate warm mini cinnamon buns. October 18 The next day, after a wonderful adventure in the woods,  were sitting at the counter eating a very late lunch of leftover pizza, watermelon and sliced strawberries.  This precious 3 year old looke...

Our son's Christening with his great grandmother.  Christening day with Granny & Davedaddy..eating her pearls.  Christening Day with Chick And the little boy grew to be a gorgeous godly man!  Thank you Jesus! October 17 One of our sons  is celebrating his 30th birthday today.  He has accomplished a lot in thirty years.  As I began to reminisce about those 30 years this morning and pray for him, I thought about how Jesus' ministry began at 30 years old and last only three years, but in those years he left us lessons to last through all eternity!

6AM train track construction 6:30 AM the bulldozers and front end loaders are at work. 7AM pancakes with Papa  7:30 Pumpkin Pose 8AM Morning Devotions May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart  be pleasing in your sight,  Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.   Psalm 19:14 October 16 Yesterday, the plan was for me was to travel to Charlottesville, VA with a friend in celebration of her 60th birthday.  We were going to peruse the ground of UVA, take in some art galleries and maybe even Monticello, but the plans were changed a bit as my daughter in law surprised me by driving from VA Beach with two of our grandchildren and meeting us for lunch.  My girlfriend was gracious about shifting gears a bit and enjoying the day with these youngsters. She told me of trip plans she has this weekend coming up with three other couples to go to the Outer Banks. On the information sheet, she requested the group leader add..."Plans a...

October 15  Attending an exciting high school football game Friday night, as the guest of the star quarterback, we arrived early to watch warmups. Not only the team was warming up, but also the band, the cheerleaders, the water boys and  security guards!  With camera in  hand I was walking around taking pics of the process.  Turning around I noticed a high school girl sitting all alone in the front row of the stands sobbing. While waiting a few minutes to ponder the situation, I searched my wallet for a scripture card and found one from the Song of Solomon 4L7b. Quietly approaching this young lady I said, "You are obviously very upset.  I have no clue what is going on in your life, but I do know that Jesus loves you more than you can even imagine and wants you to read the words on this card and feel his love. You are beautiful from head to toe, my dear love,  beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless. As she read t...

My maternal grandparents. October 13-14 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9 Friday, I opened the godtube video below, which had come by email.  I was really in a hurry and it didn't look very exciting (didn't even list an artist). Fortunately, I watched and I hope you all will listen. Time is precious, relationships should be cherished.  Don't let a day slip by without investing in one! Watch: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0JEMFJNU&utm_source=GodTube%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=10/12/2012 My father is 92 and he is more than precious. He was a very successful businessman, but he always found time for family.  My mother, who died 12 years ago,  had a serious drinking problem, but he stood by her and loved her in the good times and bad.  Several beautiful albums sit on his coffee table and...

A harvest of grapes at the home of my dear Gladys who raised me. October 12 Brandon Heath, a friend of our daughter's, has a song out titled The Harvester . Hearing it for the first time this week, I seem to constantly be drawn back to the lyric Those who don't know you or just don't know yet. The little word yet  keeps staring at me.  Have I given up praying for some situations thinking they will never come?  What I need is to shift gears again and say, "Lord, I'm back with this specific request that hasn't been answered YET." Heading to Merriam Webster here are some alternative phrases for yet. Up to now So far At this time Up to the present Let's take each of these phrases and ask God to stir our hearts toward individuals, who have not been harvested yet! Up to now, Father, ________has not come to know you personally. So far, God, __________has not been willing to go to church with me and worship you. At this time, Lor...