Boojoyful

May 31 "Unlike Joshua and Caleb, the other Israelites followed the Lord's calling out from Egypt, but they did not follow Him into the land. Many Christians repeat this same error today. They have followed the Lord as He led them out of the spiritual death of sin and guilt. They are "out of Egypt." They are forgiven of their sins.  They have a new life in Christ. However, they do not follow the Lord on "into the land."  They do not follow by faith into abundance of life.  They do not follow the Lord in humble dependence for transformation, for fruitfulness, for a life of spiritual victory." Bob Hoekstra  ... for they have wholly followed the Lord."   Numbers 32:11-12 I am preparing for a summer Bible study with a group of women, which is led on DVD by Priscilla Shirer, called One in a Million, Journey to Your Promised Land. I came across the above writing of Bob Hoekstra online, where he expresses so nicely how many people are simply satis...

The Andrews kids and their four Maltese..Spirit, Kindness, Patience and Truth May 30 Dusk was upon us and night would not be far behind.  Our neighbor called, quite distraught, that her new little Maltese had run.  She had been searching for 30 minutes, but could find her nowhere.  Shiloh sits on five acres and our neighbor has three acres.  The driveway is a half mile long through dense woods.  Finding a tiny white fluff ball appeared to be a daunting task and by this time the owner was quite concerned what critter in the woods may have already killed her. My husband and I headed out in different directions to help with the search.  While deep in our woods I thought I heard a dog barking over in the 130 acre development behind our property.  Walking to our neighbor's home, I share this information and suggested we get in the car and drive a few miles to that neighborhood.  Before we left I took her hand and prayed for God to protect this ti...

May 29   "Today, if you hear his voice,  do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."   Hebrews 3:15 There were birthday cakes to be baked and muffins to be made and I had forgotten to take the butter out to soften earlier.  Time truly was of the essence, so I quickly stuck a couple sticks of butter in my back pockets hoping they would soften by the time I had all the other ingredients measured out. Oh, that it would be that simple to soften some hard hearts, when it comes to the standoff they have established in reference to Christ coming in and controlling their lives.

May 28 Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God  with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38 As quickly as a slippery fish can slide off your fingers after being caught or a succulent oysters escape from your fork, the habit of making time for God can be stolen from your day.  One of the most amazing characteristics of God is the way he waits for our return in love.  (Funny, how we lack the patience to wait for answers to our prayers, yet receive His grace over and over again.) It is almost 10 o'clock. I'm not sure where my morning went, but it wasn't being spent with the Lord.  The day started a little later than usual and I embarked on my new summer routine of plant watering and dead bloom picking.  A couple phone calls, a knock at the door and then I remembered I hadn't written the devotional.   Picking up Jesus Today,  by Sarah Young, in hopes o...

May 27 I pray I can accurately express what my heart is feeling on this Memorial Day. Over the years I had the privilege to listen to my father share stories from World War II.  When he talks about it, he reflects on the camaraderie with the other soldiers, the sustenance which came from the letters from home, and the joy of coming home. Our military men and women give the ultimate sacrifice...their lives...for our freedom.  I'm sure we don't thank these soldiers or the Lord nearly enough for the gift of freedom we have been given, at great expense of others willingness to fight.  Our religious liberty, the right to free speech and the privilege to vote make us thankful to be Americans. On the spiritual war front battles are waged every day.  A victory has been won, through great expense, on that arena as well. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatian...

May 25-26 Exhausted from cleaning out our laundry room and other chores, I stopped and sat on the floor to count rattan chargers for an upcoming party.  My mind was blank and then the words came... "Prepare your heart."  What does that mean Lord?  Prepare my heart for what?  Immediately, the phone rang. Caller ID showed it was my husband's cell phone. "What's wrong?" I inquired.  "Nothing." he replied. "Are you crying?"  "No, I'm just plumb tuckered out and some words from the Lord gave me a startle, " I spoke into the phone. "Prepare your heart."  That could relate to a hundred different things to come. Positive and negative. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing !   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.   Isaiah 43:18-20 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a...

May 24 Do you ever come across a simple, powerful truth that just stays with you?  Tuesday an email from Godtube popped up announcing a new Amy Grant song.  At first I thought of all I had to get done that day and almost didn't take time to listen.  Then I remembered the importance of just being still and praising God and decided to tune in.  While the whole song is quite moving, there is one lyric which has stuck with me: Death's good-bye is Love's hello. For those of us whose salvation is secure in Christ, exiting this world means entering the arms of "Love"...Love is Jesus himself! One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.   Psalm 27:4   May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blam...

May 23 Say what?  Yes, I awakened thinking of "Weebles".  And just what could the spiritual context be behind these little toys?  Well, "Weebles wabble but they don't fall down."  That is how God wants us to walk this walk on earth.  Though we may stumble, if we cling to "Truth", stay spiritually alert, and allow Him to lead us in upright paths we will not fall. The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.   Psalm 37:23-25 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.  When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.  Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.   Proverbs 4:11-13 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumb...

May 22 The wind blew the pinwheels in the yard around and around to the delight of the children.  The little boy laughed at the antics of the squiggle worm in his hand. Tears of joy poured down the cheeks of the new mother as she realized the tiny bundle she held was God's gift to her.  The elderly couple sat on the park bench content to hold hands and reflect on their 60 years together.  A grin graced the face of the dying woman as she was about to exit earth and be ushered into heaven with Jesus.  The one who calmed the storm, who held the blind man and set the captives free loves each of us so much he bled and died for us.  The wonder of it all is so much to behold. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.   Job 5:9 Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5 ...

May 21 Waiting for a phone call to meet someone on the other side of the lake, I was getting anxious as the minutes ticked away.  My great nieces were coming to spend the night in preparation for a big birthday party the following day and I had a list of chores to accomplish.  It was 9:00AM when I embarked upon my journey and tuned the radio on to Victory FM. For the first time in months I was listening to a broadcast by Focus on the Family.  Priscilla Shirer was the speaker. I was quite interested to listen, because she is the Bible teacher for the DVD series we are using in our summer women's Bible study here at Shiloh beginning in June. Do you ever recognize that God has placed you in the right place, at the right time, for a really RIGHT reason?  The 30 minute drive ahead of me flew by as I experienced about every emotion possible, while listening to this broadcast.  Laughter, learning, tears, and conviction all set into my soul.  Actually, I wa...

May 20 The same morning as the word "thrills" came to me the word "extravagant" entered my mind.  Both of those words are full of exuberance!  They energize me.  Check out these passages which tell of a love beyond belief, which is available to us.  Oh, how my heart aches for those who are not experiencing the  love of Jesus Christ. The Experience The One that God sent speaks God's words.  And don't think he rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces. The Father loves the Son extravagantly.   He turned everything over to him so he could give it away-a lavish distribution of gifts.  That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, lie complete and forever!  And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn't see life.  All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that. John 3:34-36 The Generosity But there is another urgency before me (Paul) now. I ...

May 18-19 During my quiet time the other day I found myself saying, "Jesus you thrill me!"  The word thrill  made me smile, so I searched for it in The Message translation on Biblegateway.  These three verses resonated in my heart as I thought of Christ, my bridegroom.  Where are we looking for thrills? Proverbs speaks to the emptiness of looking in all the wrong places. Your addicted to thrills?  What an empty life!  The pursuit of pleasure is never satisfied.   Proverbs 21:17 Here's great marital advice.  Yesterday, I emailed these to our children hoping they'd get a thrill  from these bits of wisdom!  Hmmm....no response. I guess the message left them speechless. Men- Your spring water is for you and you only, not to be passed around among strangers. Bless your fresh-flowing fountain!  Enjoy the wife you married as  a young man!  Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose- don't ever quit taking delight in her ...

May 17 Running into a department store to pick up a pair of shoes,  I was startled by an announcement over the loud speaker.  Two ladies were talking at the register next to me and I couldn't make out what was said on the PA system, but no one moved, so I assumed it was not an emergency. While I was paying, the man's voice came on again..."Come immediately to the table by on the first floor, by the down escalator for your free gift. These will be given out on a first come basis."  I had to pass that section on the way out of the store and sure enough about 20 ladies appeared mesmerized by a gold box on the platform stage and the man in the purple shirt who was touting the benefits of this little red plastic corer/juicer. He was from QVC (I think those are the right letters for the home shopper's network). Like the others, I was suckered into watching his show and receiving a "free gadget". But wait!!!  He shouted, "Now ladies, what comes afte...

Elated with a new rocking horse! May 16 w00t ! is a contemporary word I came across a few years ago.   You spell it: small "w", zero, zero, small "t".   It is a synonym for pure elation!  Being thrilled beyond belief. That is how I felt yesterday while studying in The Secret Place.   I  was shouting " w00t " and " wh00pee "! It's all about Jesus! Here is my biggest w00t quote from Chapter 40 of Secrets in the Secret Place:  "Jesus was saying we ought not come to the Scriptures  to gain knowledge about a Book; rather, we ought to come  to the Scriptures to gain knowledge about a Person." Oh, how I pray we can each get to know Him better today! May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely  be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes! Galatians 6:18

May 15 On Mother's Day we had the privilege of attending our grandson's baby dedication.  The pastor was clear in his explanation that this was not like baptism when someone professes their faith in Christ, but rather a ceremony where parents make a commitment to God to bring their child up in the training of the Lord.  It was refreshing to see so many families taking the spiritual aspect of their parenting roles so seriously. Looking the word dedicate up in the dictionary, definitions refer to: devotion to the worship of a divine being; to being set apart; and to being committed to a goal or way of life. Scouring Biblegateway the NIV listed 39 Old Testament verses on dedicating things, but only one New Testament reference.  The day we became owners of Shiloh, I knelt by a big tree and dedicated the property and our care and use of it, to the Lord.  It's been a wild ride!  Besides our homes and children, what can we dedicate to the Lord? What can we s...

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,  who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. Psalm 24:3-4 May 14 Attempting to get back in the swing of things, after a weekend away, I grabbed my Bible and was looking for a pen when the phone rang. "Moses, is bathed and ready for pick-up. If you are here by 11:30 you will not be charged for an additional day."  The day shifted gears and out the door I went. Praise God we live in a nation where Christian radio is permitted.  My drive into the city allowed me a wonderful time of learning on Victory FM! Chatting with the women at Bible study last night I told them about a wonderful example I had heard on the topic of being blameless.   The speaker explained that if a young man stood trial for stealing a car and went before the judge and the charges were dropped, he might still have sinned, but was no longer blamed. ...

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands!   Psalm 100:1 May 13 Friday, I boarded a plane to head to our grandson's baby dedication. As I sat down the man in the window seat beside me had a tambourine in his lap.  It made me smile.  I thought...there may be some praising going on on this flight.  No sooner were we airborne than did he pull out his KEY BOARD! That fellow played his keyboard from Charlotte, NC to Minneapolis, MN!  He graciously allowed me to take a picture. Whether in the shower, the car or in the middle of a store...sing to the Lord today!

May 11-12 Praying today about a word that describes a mother's love the word cherish came to mind. Merriam-Webster's defines cherish this way: to hold dear: feel or show affection for; to keep or cultivate with care and affection, nurture. Many of us have experienced a mother's love.  All of us have the opportunity to experience God's love. ...you are a people set apart as holy to God, your God.   God, your God, chose you out of all the people on Earth for himself as a cherished, personal treasure.   Deuteronomy 7:6 Rejoice in knowing you are loved!

May 10 Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law has gone to Timnah to shear his sheep. "She took off her widow's clothes, put on a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim which is on the road to Timnah. She realized by not that even though Shelah was grown up, she wasn't going to be married to him.  Judah saw her and assumed she was a prostitute since she had veiled her face.  He left the road and went over to her. He said, "Let me sleep with you." He had not idea that she was his daughter-in-law. Genesis 38:15-18 Playing dress up has been a favorite activity at our house for years.  One son, seen on this "stick" horse as Superman, still has a blast in adulthood.  There are some intriguing Bible stories where dressing up to deceive (disguised) plays an intricate part.  (If you've never read Tamar's tale, check out the full story.) Here's our tough question. Are we clearly identified as Christians, pas...

May 9 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.  You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world.  So keep a firm grip on the faith.  The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ-eternal and glorious plans they are!- will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.  1 Peter 5:8 MSG Turning on the news, we learn that three young women in Cleveland, Ohio had to learn to be content in what is most likely the direst of suffocating circumstances. My mind is truly struggling to process what happened. That was not God's will for those young ladies. Night before last I thought about how little attention I pay to what is going on around our sparsely populated neighborhood.  There is no way I could hea...

May 8 The word circumstances keeps arising in my world this week.  A couple days ago I read an Adrian Rogers devotional in which he said: "I ask some Christians, 'How are you doing?'  They say, 'Okay-under the circumstances.' How did you ever get there?  Circumstances are like a mattress. You're supposed to be on it, not under it.  Under the circumstances, you suffocate; on them you rest pretty well." Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Nancy Leigh DeMoss posted: “We tend to look at the circumstances of life in terms of what they may do to our hopes and conveniences. When a problem threatens, we rush to God, not to seek His perspective, but to ask Him to deflect the trouble. Arthur Matthews was serving as a missionary in China when the Communists took control. He spent years under house arrest with his wife and daughter, and his writings show what it’s like to embrace the...

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you  to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.   1 Peter 3:15 May 7 As I've said over and over again, small group Bible study is like a banquet buffet. There is so much (wisdom) there for the taking as we learn from one another.  One member of our group challenged us last week to know a "Five Minute Drill".  To be able to share the Gospel with another in five minutes. My husband shared a story of a man who was weary from his friends constant desire to tell him about Jesus, so finally one day he said, "OK, I'll give you five minutes to tell me what's on your mind." Do you have a condensed version of all Jesus means to you? The same gentleman in our groups shared this quote: "The problem with testimonies is that you have to live them."

 Facial expression realizing your outdoor party is rained out... Facial expression realizing cake and a chorus of happy birthday are just as good indoors! Transformation! May 6 Small group Bible study is such a blessing. To have a setting with people whom you can be comfortable seeking truth is a treasure. My husband was leading a group recently and gave a couple examples of unusual ways to acquire desired change: One... If you are tired, exercise to get energy. Next...The Bible says if you want to be first, you must be last. Change is uncomfortable for many people.  But the Bible says: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.   Matthew 18:3 The study we were working on issued this challenge: "What characterizes a life mastered by God?" My reply, "Transformation." If we want to be like Jesus, we need to change from our sinful ways. Transformation is a life long process! As for God... I...

May 4-5 Looking for some recent notes which I'd taken on a message about the fear of God, I was baffled trying to locate them.  Walking into my dressing room, I noticed a pair of shoes on the floor and the word sole,  came to mind. Recognizing it was the Lord sending me down a different path, I inquired... "Would that be sole, soul, or Seoul?" Heading off to Biblegateway with my inquiry, after reading about the sores on the soles of Job's feet, I settled upon many verses related to "heart and soul". King David gave this preface to those building the temple in relationship to specifications. Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.   1 Chronicles 22:19 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?   Psalm 42:2 Hmm, wish the FDA had done that before they set "the morning after pill...

... he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Psalm 78:24   May 3 Wait? Is that manna our grandson and his dog are eating?  No, it's a T.P. party! It caught me off guard as I was studying a chapter in Secrets of the Secret Place  titled "The Secret of Manna Gathering". Sorge writes: "We know the manna of the wilderness was good for only one day; if kept over into the next day, it would rot (Exodus 16:12-31).  It's still true that yesterday's feeding in the word will never sustain us for today. One of the primary functions of the secret place is to be fed afresh each day in His word....No man is to teach you how to find this knowing relationship with God; the Holy Spirit Himself will be your teacher....It's not that difficult to learn how to gather manna.  Just get out there and start working.  Pick up your Bible, and begin to labor in it...All you must do is shut your door....The secret is: Learn to gather y...

May 2 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Last week our pastor delivered a fabulous sermon in a series he is currently giving called "I Need to Change".  He stated, "God likes to do something new!" That's a good thing because we all need a little sprucing up along life's rugged road, don't we? For days now I've pondered another comment he made, "We treat everything in our schedules as if they have equal value."  Sad, but it's true for most people.  They look at their weeks events and list off the "to do's" with equal importance.  Grocery store, workout, drive carpool, Bible Study, dinner and a movie, pick up dry cleaning, go to church, grab lunch with a friend....etc. Our daily time with God should be the highlight event of each day. We were blessed to help host a high school youth group of 25 amazing young people this past weekend.  When one of the p...

May 1 http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=WKY6YLNX&utm_source=GodTube%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=04/26/2013 Besides the very important message in this song, for us to be instruments of peace, I was taken back and realized how seldom I thank God for the gift of song.  Music moves my soul everyday, whether instrumental, by the birds, or a vocal chorus or tune turned out by acoustical guitar.  I believe there will be daily concerts in heaven!