Boojoyful

January 31 Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions , give it all you've got,  be resolute, and love without stopping. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Listening to a Bible Study video this week, the term resisted conviction  was tossed out in relationship to  situations which can bring about anguish in our lives.  My head was spinning from all I was learning and I placed a question mark next to this phrase, which I jotted in my notes.  As evening settled in, I asked my man....What does resisted conviction  mean related to anguish? Very eloquently he explained it this way.   "Resisted Conviction is that in-between time when you know you've done wrong, but you push conviction away.  By postponing the day of reckoning, you just make it worse, bringing anguish upon your soul." Beth Moore writes (and I felt the conviction as I read this): "God reminds us that He didn't plant His word in us just so we could divert it toward someone else's convic

January 30 Yesterday's 74 degree temperatures symbolized a gift blowing through from God. Broken toe and all I had to get out and walk, it felt so amazing.  Even last night as I went out to walk Moses, the air was balmy reminding me of Florida winters.  As I walked I thought, "This is a glorious day!" By the time I reached home, the phrase "Glorious Day" had played over and over in my mind and I thought I recalled a song by that name. Googling the search, there it was.  The story line encompasses more than a summer breeze.   Click on the link below, be moved by the lyrics and sing along! Glorious Day by Casting Crowns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXp6xcY5IqU The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and GLORIOUS DAY of the Lord.  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:20-21

January 29 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:24 They say 21 days will make a habit and I will have to say, I missed my morning, singing out loud, praise time and fished around for another inspiring God Tube. The one below came with a devotional by Chris Tomlin. The lyric.. Awake, Awake, Awake my soul had me fired up and ready to face the day. Do we believe God can breathe life into us? Do we believe the Holy Spirit can fill us with every good gift from power to peace? Do we need to be awakened to the reality of God's love and his purpose for our lives? http://www.godtube.com/devotionals/daily-devotional-january-10-2013-featuring-chris-tomlin-awake-my-soul.html?utm_source=GodTube%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=01/10/2013

January 28 If I am recollecting correctly, the ad I am remembering was for Krispy Kreme Donuts .  It was played on Saturday mornings at a local TV station during what they called a  kiddie show.  The "gotcha line" with robust enthusiasm went something like Krispy Kreme....KING of America's Donuts! Beth Moore, in teaching on James 1:5... If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing. She makes the point that if God is all knowing and already knows what we need, why can't He just give it to us?  Why do we always have to ask?  Her response.... "The KING of the universe wants a real, live relationship with us.  He's not interested in just being a mind reader.  He's not even interested in just being a provider. He's both of those things, but the role He relishes most is Father. He wants us-frail mortal creatures-to connect with Him and communicate with Him as the dearest relationship in the human

January 26-27 Final Days of the Praise Party #20 and # 21 This is incredible!  You are going to Jump for Joy! Crown Him with Many Crowns by Chris Tomlin http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0910MCNU&utm_source=GodTube%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=01/24/2013 Was there a song, way back when, that had a lyric "Can't get enough of that funky stuff"?  That is the way I feel about a chapter on joy that I read in John Ortberg's book,   The Life You've Always Wanted to Have . It is chocked full of so much goodness, which just sank deep into my soul. It has been an emotional week watching friends and family face some major health issues. One young woman, whom I love like a daughter, had a miscarriage and our hearts ache for the baby we will not hold here on earth.  Another couple, in a Bible Study we are participating in, each lost a parent.  While they were making funeral arrangements for the wife's mother in Virginia, they received a phone ca

January 25 As hard as I try, I still am not very inept at texting on a smart phone.  In my husband's frustration with his phone the other day, he exclaimed, "I have an idiot phone!"  While attempting to type the word Sunday,  it first came out  sinday and boy did that get my attention.  More than likely, today I will sin. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.   Romans 3:23 Typing again, instead of Sunday the screen read  sumday.   This old mind began ticking.  What will the sum of our days represent? Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12 The  sumday, switched in my mind to some day.... ...every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.    Romans 14:11 Day #19 of Praise I decided to go with female gospel singers today. CeCe Winans and  I Surrender All http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IAz9artoBw Tanya Blount and  His Eye is on the Sparrow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Pk5YMkEcg

January 24 The mind is an amazing thing!  The other night I dreamed about pirates (actually, a reference had been made in a Bible Study I am doing to pirates) and as they were attacking our ship, I was hiding my wedding ring so they would not steal it.  In the morning I awakened and realized I did not have my wedding ring on. While preparing dinner the night before, I had taken the ring off and in the middle of the night my mind recognized this void and turned that into a dream about pirates!  Pretty amazing! This realization set me off on a scriptural study of the word mind.   Woot!  The Bible states we can be out of our minds, double minded, like minded, of 1 mind, and we can have depraved, troubled, poisoned, peaceful, changed or renewed minds.   The recommended advice is to set our minds on Christ  and remember  God knows our minds! Now there's a lot to think about!  :-) The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Roma

January 23 "A Friend's Rejection" “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God.”  Psalm 55:12-14 Man, I tell you, I don't think there is much worse than being betrayed by a close friend, family member or lover you trusted.  Praise the Lord and I ask for continued grace and protection, I don't think that has happened between my husband and myself, but we've endured the other two categories. Boyd Bailey writes: "  The worst kind of rejection may be the rejection of a friend. You expect it from an enemy, but not from a friend. It doesn’t make sense that someone you communed with around Christ would come back and crush you with rejection. Rejection integrated with religious pretense is rough. It challenges our trust in people

January 22 The Wisdom Hunter is a devotional to which I subscribe online and recently there have been excellent devotionals on friendship . Check out the  wisdomhunter.com   "Friends Warn Friends" is based on some passages in 1 Samuel. “Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there.” 1 Samuel 19:1-2 “Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 20:42 Many, many years ago a friend called me to share that she had heard someone, whom I thought was a godly friend and fellow church member,  talking about me in a less than friendly manner.  She knew I'd invested highly in this relationship and wanted to warn me.  A week later, working at a school clothing sale another older Christian friend told me a

January 21 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of  the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.    1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Jesus came to save the Jew and the Gentile alike.  We are all God's children, yet we are each individuals with unique personalities, physical traits and God given gifts.  Our common bond is a heart that yearns for its Creator. While it is the Holy

January 19-20th God has us covered, we just have to hang with Him.  On the 14th I started a new Bible Study with a delightful group of women. In the midst of my preparations, I allowed my regular devotional routine to slip away a bit. Had I continued on a commitment to read Sarah Young's, Jesus Today , daily I would have had this wonderful insight to share with many of the woman, myself included, on the challenge of keeping God and our study of His Word and His Ways first! This was the entry on January 13th. Instead of taking the extra few minutes to do this, I more than likely took a peak at Facebook, checked out Valentine's ideas on Pinterest, took photographs of something, baked an extra goody, picked up my knitting, turned on HGTV or fell into a multitude of other distractions.  None of which are as fulfilling as time with the Lord. In the past I have used designed scripture related notepads.  When I save up some cash, I am going to make some that have written at the to

January 18 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7 This week on Godtube there were two stories that stirred my heart on the subject of how each person is precious in God's sight and never overlooked by God.  We in our humanness, do look the other way at times when we encounter uncomfortable situations.  The two young ladies in these stories are different from most teenagers.  One has an in operable brain tumor and great limitations. The other has downs syndrome.  The way "community" has reached out to these gals will fill your heart with joy. After viewing these stories consider doing what I did and ask yourself, what are the situations I look away from.  The people who are out of our comfort zone, may not just by looking different, but maybe you avoid them in the grocery store aisle because they talk too much.  Could they be lonely?  Maybe it is the young mother who is losing

January 17th Just in time for today's snow, my Holy Spirit bird is back!!!!  If you recall reading about this "dove" (actually a sea gull) in years past you may remember, one year after seeing him for several days, the rest of the Trinity showed up and there were three of them who would fly back and forth in the cove. The Father and Son have not arrived yet, this year.  I am struggling to recover from a broken toe and still cannot get anything comfortably on my feet with the exception of slippers and flip flops, but hopefully I can squeeze into my snow boots this afternoon or tomorrow and capture a picture if the bird appears soaring in the forecasted snow. Just like the first time he appeared, I was in prayer mode yesterday seeking the Lord. My pondering was the topic of how to best pray for someone and l Iooked out our bedroom window and there he was!!!!  A reminder to me that when we do not know what to pray, the Spirit will intercede on our behalf! When I thi

January 16 Here's hoping the Lord will allow me to do some double hitting the next 8 weeks as I am in an in-depth Beth Moore study.  I'd love to just be able to regurgitate what I learn each day from her study, but more than likely God will set me on some different paths with Boojoyful and s t r e t c h me, reminding me to allow the Holy Spirit to do the work. I do love how this study of the book of James begins referencing  1 Corinthians 15:7: Then He (Christ) appeared to James. Realize this appearance was after Christ had been crucified, so it was probably a real show stopper! Jesus' half-brother had not believed Christ was whom he claimed to be while Christ walked on earth.  Obviously, from the book of James, we learn those beliefs changed drastically . People change ...a 25 year high school reunion is proves that. Christ's profession, you might say, is a redemption service, it is all about changing lives.  He came to save sinners (we'd all be in th

January 15 ... complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.  Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.    Philippians 2:2-4 Speaking to a young woman the other day, she was elated to have found out she was pregnant with her first child.  As I inquired to her family's reaction I received a very honest reply.  "Well, my sister-in-law thinks it would be fun for her to get pregnant again and go through this with me. Actually, I would rather she didn't, as I want this pregnancy to be all about me." Well, that's honest. It is the "all about me" attitude that brings about disappointment for us time and again though.  Our real joy in life comes when "It's all abo

January 14 We have a driveway sensor which beeps three times through our home security system to warn us when someone is approaching our property. It is one of my favorite techno gadgets! Gives me time to put on my lipstick before I answer the door!  That is a big HA, HA for those of you who know me. It's more like it gives me time to get our of my PJ's! Early yesterday morning before sunrise, it sounded, then sounded immediately again and again.  I jumped out of the bed and ran to the window expecting to see jeeps full of intruders launching an attack on Shiloh or possibly a herd of very heavy set deer.  There was no one visible, so then I assumed it was our angel army! There is a message in music!  Below is a wonderful interview with Chris Tomlin and following that his song, "Whom Shall I Fear". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nykPjrAyoJ0 Day #8 of Praise Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x5aEvl6Zdk

January 12-13 We've just made it through the first full week of the new year and for some people that meant embarking on a new formal Bible Study.  The group I am a part of starts this coming Monday and we will be stopped in our tracks by the less than tactful way James blurts out some truths.  The group our daughter is facilitating began last week in Nashville with a brunch and informal time to meet one another and pick up their workbooks.  The introduction to "One in a Million" by Priscilla Shirer reads: " The Egyptians in Exodus 1 were intent on enslaving the Israelites, wearing them down so that God's chosen people would become disillusioned and not live up to their destiny. Of the original two million Israelites who received God's invitation to enter the Promised Land, only two actually entered it! Similarly, modern day Christians often hear and understand the promises of God each Sunday morning at church but then rarely choose to experience them in e

January 11 Typing the title Treasure Hunt, it came out Treasure Hint...so appropriate for what God wants us to be taught today. Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   Matthew 6:19-21 Leaving to go out of town one time, I decided to leave a note for would be robbers.  I placed one in the silver drawer and one with my jewelry. "Jesus would not be happy with you for robbing!  Please do not do this!" Equally as true is the reality that Jesus is not happy with us cherishing our treasures more than we treasure our relationship with him.  The STUFF that really matters is found in our hearts and no one can steal Jesus from there! Day #6 of Praise I  thank God for the gifted musicians he has placed on e

A grandfather, grandson and great-grandson sharing a moment of love. I love the hands of the youngest on his father and great grandfather. January 10 Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love,  just as Christ loves us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 A reader of Boojoyful asked me one day, "Do you type the Scriptures in each day or cut and paste what are sometimes long passages?"  I should have inquired as to the reason she was asking, probably some of my typos, as I do usually type them out. Being a visual learner, I explained, the Word seems to implant in my heart deeper if I type or write it out. Do you see the NIV translation "typo" in today's verse?  Reading back over it I realized there was a compound verb tense disagreement, but writing the present and past tense verbs "loves" and "gave" were accurate in that Chr

1991 (Purple must have been popular that year too) January 9 Blessed is the one who does not walk in the step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners talk or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord , and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1 1-3 If someone approached you today and asked..."What do you delight in?"  How would you respond? The fabulous British TV series, "Downton Abby" has started back up this week with Season 3!  Just look on Facebook and see how delighted people are that it is finally here!  (Confession...I have really enjoyed this program myself.)  Facebook...now there's another addictive delight. Maybe you are like me and you delight in your children or grandchildren and could sit and watch them all day.  Possibly you're  in love

January 8   Be Holy, therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,  set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.   1 Peter 1:13  We've just passed through a season of gift giving.  Some people had their hopes on things they did not receive. Next month, Valentine's Day enters in and again hearts will be disappointed when what they had hoped for does not appear.  God promises us a day is coming when Jesus Christ will come again and for his followers there awaits a revelation that will not disappoint, but will bring us to a joyous completion. Sunday, in church, there was a woman who was dancing at her seat during the worship time. People were looking at her with raised eyebrows.  I met this woman last month and know that she is a new believer in Christ and is going to be baptized this coming Sunday. She can't help but dance knowing her sins have been forgiven.  I felt her joy and wanted to dance along.  You se

January 7 Wash and make yourself clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.   Learn to do right, seek justice.  Defend the oppressed.   Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.  Isaiah 1:16-17 January 5th's Biblegateway verse above gives us quite a project list. 1) Confess our sins 2) Stop doing wrong. 3) Learn to do right  (for that behavior doesn't come naturally) 4) Defend the oppressed (Start by trying to brighten their day) 5)Take up the cause of the fatherless (Invite a single mom and her children to dinner, attend the      children's sporting events, inquire at a local school or college about ways to support students without       fathers/parents.) 6) Plead the case of the widow or widower  (Plan a dinner/evening event for a them. Those evening                    hours are the toughest times of the day.) As we look back over this list, we think...How will I find time to do these things?  Th

January 5-6 Grabbing a notebook I decided to launch out on a 21 Day Spiritual Makeover. "They say" (my husband and I always laugh, wondering who "they" are) it takes 21 days to make a habit, so we shall see how long this lasts.  Each day I plan to write down the Biblegateway Verse for the day, read a short devotional (or 2, or 3, or 4),  work on an ongoing Bible Study, commit to listen to at least one praise song and spend time in listening prayer. I also made a column I called "Kingdom Investments" and will record ways I invest in my marriage, children/grandchildren and others. Micah 6:8 was a great verse on Biblegateway in The Message translation to start off with yesterday; But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously-take God seriously. D

January 4 While changing the diaper of one of our grandsons I exclaimed, "Oh, no, he has an outie!"  "I know," his mother replied, "my husband has tried to push it back in."  Researching this issue I came to find out only 10% of the population appears to have outies and it is just random chance which causes this to occur. Bless his belly button!  We will love him just the same. Yesterday, flu like symptoms set in and I had an "inny" day and didn't venture "outie".  I'm stopping to pray right now for school children who have returned to class after the Christmas break and I am asking the Lord to find ways to pour his love upon those children who feel they are not apart of the "inny" group, but have been ousted by their peers. From a Biblical perspective what is God wanting to teach us.  I've been studying about the life of James and there were some major in's and out's as the Jewish Christians were bein

January 3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds. James 1:2 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 When entering a new Bible study I often wonder...."What is God preparing me for?" Yesterday, two studies I am currently embarking upon had me chow down on these verses first thing.  Whew, maybe we best close those books!  (The studies are Beth Moore's , James, Mercy Triumphs, and Sarah Young's book, Jesus Today. Cheers to choices!  God gave us free will to choose not only the paths we will take, but the way we will react to the bumps in the road. Joy leads to jubilation, where jealousy, retaliation and vengeance are a heavy load of junk which keep us burdened down.  In our toughest trials we can look for God's training ground. Everyday there are lessons if we listen. One of our grandchildren

January 2 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8 Yesterday, I spent some time rewinding tapes on our VCR!  Yes, we still have a small television with a VCR and some wonderful old tapes from the 80's.   "Kids' Praise 4"," Cars, Boats, Trains & Planes by We Sing", and numerous Winnie the Pooh and Berenstain Bear videos.  Now you can't tote them around like an iPad and the grands grow a bit impatient waiting for them to activate, but occasionally we come across one of them which captivates their attention. Cleaning up the baby toys, I had to laugh at the wind up plastic television screen toy.  Babies now have iPads and iTouches that run for hours with the touch of a finger versus this toy which runs for 30 seconds after being wound up! Exercises have certainly evolved over the years too.  I have no clue what P90X means or "Down Dog".  I did catch a glance at some 'burpees"