Boojoyful

March 31 His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time-he's told us this quite plainly-he'll also rock the heavens:"One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern."  The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered. Do you see what we've got?  An unshakable kingdom!  And do you see how thankful we must be?  Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God.  For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!    Hebrews 12:26-29 What you plant in your mind, stays in there. I read this verse on Saturday and later that night, while in the kitchen with one of our grandsons, I was singing…"Shake, shake, shake your Mama BOOtie." :-) I think i...

We've gone to the ATM machine….Ate Too Much March 29-30 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 My mind keeps drifting back to a woman who visited recently and bluntly inquired of me, "Why do you do what you do?"   Ah, a good question for us all to ask ourselves.  While reading a Charles Stanley devotional the other day I found myself saying, "That's it!  That is what I want others to understand and experience." Stanley wrote: "Eternity begins the moment we are saved; there is no reason to wait until heaven to enjoy the Lord's riches.  At salvation, we received every good gift that God intends to give us: forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, a place in His family, and much more…spiritual growth broadens our capacity to recognize and enjoy His grace in our lives." Fellowship with Jesus thrills my heart! After an extremely busy day, I rea...

March 28 Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called "Today,"  so that none of you may be  hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13  Currently, I am participating in a study on spiritual disciplines. Each week we take a characteristic of Christ and work to incorporate that trait into our lives. This week has been the virtuous life and I chose to be intentional in speaking encouragement and affirmation into our grandchildren who have been with us.  While successful in the attempts with our grandchildren, I failed to carry out the same affirmation upon my husband.  Tired from creative grandmothering, when he came home, I was a sour puss towards him.  While placing a two year old on the potty, I looked up on the wall behind the toilet and read… listen, laugh, encourage.    I had scored an A+ on the preschool level, but an F in the spousal category!  I thanked God for placing those words spot on in my face and sought f...

 Pansies in the snow... Not pansies in the snow at 8:00AM as it began to fall. March 27 Coming to Him, as to a living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood,  offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.   1 Peter 2:4-5 " The revealed Word of God is the solid rock on which we are to build our lives and ministries. Its commands and laws are not optional: they are mandatory. Just because a command or law in the Word might be offensive, we do not have the option of offense and disobedience. The only option we have is to obey." In just over 3 weeks we will be rejoicing on Easter morn, with shouts of "His is risen! Alleluia!  While that is such an eternal victory over death, the sacrifice takes on much deeper meaning and there are life lessons to be tasted which transform us (more than often through trials) ...

March 26 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  Some of our grandchildren are here for the week and I decided to put this play house on the bed for our granddaughter to sleep in.  She LOVES it.  Her joy made me think about how we are going to feel when we see the house Jesus has prepared for us.  Remember he was a carpenter by upbringing! Just as this little room of her's is within our home, the place Jesus is preparing for us is within His heavenly home!  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 

The snow isn't this deep yet, but it is beautiful! March 25 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic." Isaiah 28:16 "Without a foundation in His Word, we will be easily offended by unexpected trials and tribulations." I'm still hanging out in the book of Judges with Gideon and learning such deep lessons.  Gideon faced an enormous trial with his 300 men. They were outnumber 450 to 1.  Priscilla Shirer lays out four key points for us when facing a battle. Great advice on how to set a sturdy foundation to avoid being offended or demolished by unexpected trials. I tried to evaluate how I've faced our daughter enduring a miscarriage this week in relationship to these points. 1) Begin the battle on your knees bowing before the Lord in worship.              I began by crying ...

March 24 The game was tight, the atmosphere tense.  My husband, who had started upright in his recliner was now positioned like a sliding board as defeat loomed near, causing him to slide lower and lower into his chair.  Then the tide turned, a foul was called and the shots made! He was on his feet, nose almost to the TV screen screaming, "Yes, yes! Along with 1,000's of other fans who bounced up and down in their seats watching their teams. March Madness is a sea of emotions! Watching the variety of emotions in these basketball games drew me to think of the contrast of emotions Jesus experienced that last week of his life. In John 12:13 we picture this scene: "They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  "Blessed is the kid of Israel." Were the same people in the crowd where we read seven chapters later:   As soon as the chief priests and their officials ...

March 22-23 While this has been a rough week, we have never been alone.  I thank God for where he has led me in my quiet times this week. Nothing has happened yet as far as our daughter miscarrying on her own.  This morning God blew me away with his provision. Here is an email I sent our daughter. Dear One.  What an emotional week this has been.  My heart has hurt for you, my precious daughter, who has endured so much disappointment in your lifetime. Each day God has blown me away in my quiet time.  Yesterday, I was able to have a good cry.  I headed out to run a couple errands. Entering a shop, as I was gathering Easter basket goodies, a sweet friend who works there greeted me with "How many grandchildren do you have now?"  DART  With a huge lump in my throat I shared about what you are enduring. Then we went to dinner with friends and the husband's first question for me was that same one. This morning as I went to G...

Life preservers. March 21 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. John 20:23 "Love forgets wrongs so there is hope for the future." I think I may have to read this book, on not taking an offense, for the rest of my life. I'm hoping the ole adage, " twenty-one days makes a habit" will kick in here.  We say the dumbest things sometimes with the best intentions.  One woman, when hearing about our daughter's dilemma emailed, "Well, you just need to accept with a large family these things are going to happen to you."  There wasn't a lot of healing for a raw open wound in that comment.  Then another precious woman, will all the well meaning in the world, began telling me how this is usually for the best…I knew where she was going and there was absolute truth in her thought process, but right now in this mother's heart my feeling is what our daughter is going thr...

Spring is coming. March 20 They are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth.   2 Timothy 3:7 For as many are lead by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.   Romans 8:14 "Offense blocks spiritual growth,  but suffering and obedience teach us to a deeper relationship with the Lord and with others." Whew, this study is one that has me meditating, absorbing and asking God to guide me in truth as he takes me deeper and deeper into an understanding of my faith.  Bevere's writes in a very thought provoking manner.  He points out that "physical growth is a function of time" while "intellectual growth is a function of of learning." Spiritual growth on the other hand is "a function of obedience." Memorizing scripture and placing it in our hearts has always been a task in which I saw great benefit, but it didn't come easily to me.  I've admired people who can just spout off v...

March 19 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.   They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing to declare the Lord is upright. Psalm 92:13-15 I haven't even opened the book, but I like the idea of being fresh and flourishing for the Lord in old age! "If we keep changing the place where we are planted,  we will never grow spiritually the way God intends." Yesterday, as we waded through the grief related to our daughter facing a miscarriage, the lab results for our daughter in law in relation to her pregnancy, and a couple other shocking bits of news, my husband tossed up to me a quote of mine…."Life is a lot."  Yes, it is, so we  trust in the Lord, cling to each other and keep on keeping on knowing heaven is coming and we have lessons to learn in the waiting. Bevere's writes boldly about the importance of us being planted in the "house of the Lord....

We find comfort in knowing that this grandchild we will not hold here on this earth is being loved on not only by Jesus, but by his/her great grandparents. March 18 Oh, Lord, I cant sleep and my mind is searching for the scriptures of assurance that this rawness of pain will subside. Does the verse exclaim that you will turn our mourning into joy?    You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothes me with joy.   Psalm 30:11 There are these things in life we cannot fix Lord and the only place we can run is to your arms.  For the past hour I've tossed in my bed, wishing I was in another city alongside my daughter, who learned yesterday at her 10 week sonogram that her baby had no heartbeat and had stopped growing at 6 weeks.  Joy has been snuffed out and a cruel game of waiting to miscarry has begun. Where we had been waiting in joy for the births of four grandchildren, now our hearts mourn the loss of one we will never kno...

March 17 The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow the to rise against Saul. 1 Samuel 24:6-7 "God often places us in uncomfortable places and under increasing pressure  so that we may be shaped by His love and refining fire." John Bevere David's heart rang true to what the Lord knew it to be!  David realized God had chosen Saul, and even though Saul had become a rotten egg, David left him to the Lord's bidding. This was such a powerful chapter in The Bait of Satan   as to how the enemy can cause turmoil in our hearts toward the church where God has placed us.  Bevere makes the comment that churches are not cafeterias where we pick what we like and if there is something we don't like we just up and leave and go looking elsewhere.  He used the Biblical ...

March 15-16 The other night on Hannity a young surfer, trying to make it as a band member, when challenged by Sean as to why he didn't work stated he was just "living the dream"of "The American Way."  It was chilling to see someone admit, with arrogance, that the great thing about America was that it allowed tax payers to pay for others to not work and live for their dream.  He wanted the free handouts of healthcare and food stamps. He didn't need the housing because he lived with a friend.  I'm sure he would not have done the Hannity show for free!  When Sean offered to get him a job paying $80,000 a year he said he didn't want it. As believers we get some amazing free handouts from Jesus.  Check out these four key points from Priscilla Shirer's study on Gideon.  I've printed them up on a card and placed it in my bathroom as a daily reminder of all God is providing for me! 1) He saved me. (Justification)        May I never forget t...

March 14 Vengeance is Mine,  I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:19 This verse had me thinking of all the times in life where I've been able to sit back and someone else does the dirty work. Usually my amazing husband.  He is not a shopper, but is quick to offer to be my personal valet service, dropping me at the store, driving off to find a parking place and then watching for me to come out and he pulls right up! My husband is awesome about clearing the table and doing the dishes.  A night out at a restaurant where someone else cooks, serves, clears and cleans is also a delight.  As a school administrator my husband listens to "issues" and often without involving an offended party, he takes care of the issue in a creative way.  We do not have garbage pick up in our county, but blessed ole me sleeps with a  man who has a pick up and hauls off our trash without me ever having to ask. I know you are thinking…."You better be good to that man!" ...

Davedaddy with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. March 13 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,   and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I  come and strike the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:6 "I don't know what a loving Father looks like.  My father died when I was four."  "My father was an alcoholic and I have no fond memories of  him." "I remind my father of my mother, whom he divorced years ago. He wants nothing to do with me. He's remarried and started a new family." All of these quotes have been stated by women sitting in our living room at one time or another. Being raised by a father who was the most extravagant giver with a loving and selfless personalty makes it difficult to comprehend the depth of the hurt these women suffer.  They would tell you the lack of those traits in a father makes it difficult to embrace God as Father. See, my father, look at this ...

March 12 For God sent me before you to preserve life…And God sent me before you to preserve a  posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God. Genesis 45:5, 7-8 "No man, woman, child, or devil can ever get you out of the will of God! Nothing can come against us without the Lord's knowledge of it before it ever happens. If the devil could destroy us at will, he would have wiped us out a long time ago, because he hates man with a passion." Bevere We must avoid the blame game and remember God is in control and has the ability to work all things together for his good and for the advancement of his kingdom.  The humanness in me would have loved to have been in that room when Joseph's brothers showed up before him as second in command in Egypt. HELLO! Here's a very interesting thought. Had Joseph remained offended and disposed of these siblings, which he certainly had the po...

March 11 Joseph said to them…"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good." Genesis 50:19-20 "Satan hopes we will take his bait of offense so that he will have a foothold into our lives." John Bevere Ah, the story of Joseph.  The story begins as a travesty and the hurt heightens as this wealthy youngster, betrayed by his own brothers, becomes a faithful slave and is once again deceptively trapped by Potiphar's wife and tossed into the vilest of prison conditions.  My mind has a difficult time comprehending how this fellow kept keeping on with his eyes on God.  Yet, then I think of some current day situations of friends, whom I love, and the depth of their hurt and betrayal by family carries a similar storyline. Bevere writes a reflection of the probable mental anguish Joseph is in at this point. "Can you hear his thoughts in the damp darkness of this dungeon? I served my master with honesty and with integrity for ov...

March 10 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,  bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "We must come to the place where we trust God-not our flesh- to protect us from offense."  Bevere And the walls should come tumbling down, but they don't.  We build them up again and again to protect ourselves from being hurt.  Guilty as charged!  I think back on numerous times in my life when I have chosen to step away from a relationship (with a brother or sister in Christ even), because it was more comfortable to do so than seek reconciliation.  That equates to selfishness, although I'm sure at the time I said, "Self preservation." Actually, I think they may be the same thing, especially when we are trusting in our own strength to see it through.  We forget...

March 8-9 Heading off this morning to a women's conference to praise the Lord with the masses!   It has been a lot of work for the women at the local church putting this conference together.  Our pastor's wife heads up this conference and we've tried to keep her prayed up so she will not grow anxious over the details.  Here are some scriptures we prayed over her. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do to be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 Let's pray these things together now for the work the Lord has for each of us to do. Then be sure to click on the song below, raise your hands in the air and sing along!  (My husband caught me doing this earlier.) Father, we adore you!  We lay our...

March 7 My guess is today is the last snowfall for the season. The floodlights are on and I've been up since 4:30 watching the beauty of the snow and standing in amazement of all the wonders of God's creation. While many people find the snow "offensive," I love the way, here in the south,  it makes us stop and be still.  Tomorrow's forecast is for 63 degrees, so we will all be up and out again! Now on with our study, which is convicting me more and more.  Clean up on aisle Boo! And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound,  the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:10-13 Jesus is giving the signs of the end times in this passage.  So in addition to the prophetic fulfillments we've seen in Israel and the weather, we can add this description of how even Christian...

March 6 The English language can be so confusing. We have carrot, carat and karate?  The first is a vegetable,  the second a system of weight for diamonds and the third relates to the purity of gold. Twenty-four karat is considered pure gold, but is so soft it is not practical for jewelry making.  18 karat gold (18K) contains 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of another metal.  The smaller the karat value the less pure the gold. Look at what Bevere states and apply this to our spiritual lives.  "Refined gold is soft and pliable, free from corrosion or other substances. It is when gold is mixed with other metals (copper, iron, nickel, and so on) that it becomes hard, less pliable, and more corrosive…Immediately we see the parallel:  A pure heart is like pure gold-soft, tender, and pliable. Hebrews 3:13 states that hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin! In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been gri...

March 5 It is impossible that no offenses should come. Luke 17:1 Well, this study on not taking an offense is a much needed chapter in my life. By 7:45 AM Monday, I had taken offense for others. These individuals probably hadn't even taken offense of the actions brought against them, but I had taken it for them!  Whew, it robs your joy, interrupts your fellowship with the Lord, and turns you into a grumbler!  Got to give it up. The book I'm journeying in through this Lenten Season is The Bait of Satan  by John Bevere.   The sub-title: "Living free from the Deadly Trap of Offense." Here we go! And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare (entrapment) of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his wil...

Heaven's lakes will be even more amazing than Lake Tahoe March 4 Charles Stanley caught my attention in a devotional last week were he stated: "There's an issue of supreme importance that we often forget about in the busyness of life and the daily challenges of relationships. It is the question of where people will spend eternity." When we attend social gatherings and are meeting a new group of people what are some of the first questions we encounter. 1) Where do you live? 2) Where did you grow up? 3) Where do you work? 4) Where are you spending eternity!  How wild would that be! Stanley goes on to say: "Looking at the human race from a divine viewpoint, we understand that at the end of time, there will be two groups: those who will live forever with God and those who will experience eternal death, separated from Him.  Every living person's final destination will hinge on the simplicity of receiving God's forgiveness for his or her sins....

Life is full of preparations. Preparing to put on my daughter's bridal veil. Preparing her child to be christened.  Our son preparing to change his first diaper. Preparing to enter fatherhood, Another son and daughter in law preparing my Daddy to enter heaven. March 3 I prayed fervently for a friend who had his colonoscopy last week.  Having endured this process twice, I know the prep is the worst part.  Our system has to eliminate anything that can obstruct the doctor's view.  In order for us to see what God is up to, to experience the thrill of hearing God's directive voice and be able to live with a peace that passes understanding we have to eliminate "stuff" from our lives. The beginning of the Lenten season is two days away.  Every year I think about giving up sugar and my prep probably consisted of baking a huge dessert to indulge in the days before!  :-)  Just did a cheesecake  and my favorite hazelnut tortes...

March 1-2 Not everything we read in God's Word is feel good, flowery, and fluffy.  I had a trifecta last week. Those always perk my ears up to inquire if God is trying desperately to speak to me. It began with me praying for someone and sensing God simply saying, "Stay away." I didn't want to stay away, it's someone I really thought would be fun to be friends with. The next day I was doing Bible Study with some women and one person brought up Matthew 7:6 on her computer.  I was familiar with the first part of the verse, but part B was a kicker that caught my attention. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet,  and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6 Yikes!  Trampling on me and God's Word is one thing, but tearing me to pieces is something I'd like to avoid.  Then on day three of this adventure which had me thinking, this Rick Warren quote pops up on Faceboo...