Boojoyful

Mama Boo receiving a lapful of love. Everyone who asks receives. Matthew 7:8 October 31 Just as some people are addicted to exercise or work, I'm addicted to Bible Study. It's where I get my fulfillment.  The nuggets God has waiting to teach me really do feel like finding treasure.  You can dig into the same verse again and again and learn a whole new lesson.  That's what has happened to me regarding:  Everyone who asks receives. Forever, I read that verse in the context of God will answer our prayers if they are within his will and God loves to bless us.  The other day I read it with the insight that God HAS good things to give us, which will bring glory to his kingdom.  We don't have to come up with the gimme list.  We can ask to receive  what He has waiting for our lives. How different does it look to come before God, believing in who he is and the magnitude with which he loves us, and ask..,"What is it You have...

October 30 You know those times when you say, "I just had a BLAST with Jesus?" Well, I've had a blast twice in three days. I was sure he was coming back on Tuesday.  It was 80 degrees outside and raining golden and crimson leaves on the dock.  I wanted to dance…should have, the neighbors already know I'm a nut.  Coming back into the house, over and over the phrase rang out…. Jesus Lover of My Soul. "What am I supposed to do with the Lord?" I asked.  Then I simply said, "I love you Jesus!" and set off to find a Youtube version of the song to send y'all! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvHDlDZOtbE For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -and this is not from yourselves,  it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.     Ephesians 2:8-9 … neither height nor depth, nor anything else in al creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39...

October 29 I sinned yesterday.  It was an act of willful disobedience and God gave me multiple opportunities to stop. The interesting thing is I saw how easily it could lead to bigger issues. We've dealt with it and He has forgiven me, but I'm so sad I succumbed to the temptation.  (No, it wasn't eating sweets, but I sure was tempted to turn to food for comfort after the failure.) God is in the midst of teaching me something huge or maybe asking me to do something huge.  My husband feels it too.  Wanting to be outside, while I wrote, this I went to get an Internet adaptor (that's my made up name for it, may be called something else).  Opening the drawer to find it, staring me in the face was my copy of Streams in the Desert,  which a daily devotional reader gave me.  I knew before I opened it there was going to be a message waiting for me.  Turning to October 28, I felt God's arms around me as I read Ephesians 2:4-6… Because of his gr...

October 28 It was 3:34 AM and I couldn't sleep, so I decided to go into prayer mode.  Remembering P.R.A.Y…. Praise, Repent, Ask and Yield…and that it was the middle of the night I started off with "Hey God, You're great!"  Shifting my mind to attempt to recall a Psalm, instead at that moment I heard the steady breathing of my man sleeping beside me and thought…You, Father, decide every breath we will take. Next, I concentrated on the beat of my heart and was awed as I realized it is God who controls the beats of my heart.  Continuing on in this reflection of how intricately God created our bodies, I wiggled my toes under the covers and thought about the brain and muscle functions that had to occur for that action to take place.  Then I got up and started typing my praise process and opened Biblegateway and read… There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is ...

October 27 Looking back on early family pictures of our six children, my heart filled with joy as I reflected on how much fun they had together.  I guess our daughter didn't know any better than life with five little brothers.  Bringing our adopted daughter into our lives years later was a blessed move. Yesterday, I was prompted by an email devotional to get on my knees for my children and pray.  The communication started with me lifting up to God their health, their careers, their parenting and their marriages (and a husband for the one not married).  Then God spoke to my heart in a unique way and impressed upon me the importance to pray first of all for them to desire His presence in their lives and for them to love Him passionately. God brought to mind how much I love being with our grandchildren.  He said, "It's an easy kind of love, because they love being with you."  The picture of cocktail party conversations or even church vestibule...

October 25-26 In the eyes of many, William Tyndale had committed the most heinous of crimes. He'd dare to translate the Scriptures into English. He would be stripped of his priesthood, forced to kneel and cut with a knife or glass on any part of his body which had been anointed with oil at this ordination, as well as his hands. Then with a noose around his neck the breath was cut off from his lungs and they burned him on a cross. It's been years since a college religion course, where I learned of the life and cruel death of William Tyndale.  He knew God had a purpose for his life and he pursued it passionately unto death. Beth Moore writes in her Children of the Day study: "Even his Englishing of the Scripture has something to tell us.  To William Tyndale, the Word of God is a living thing. It has both warmth and intellect. It has discretion, generosity, subtlety, movement, authority. It has a heart and a pulse. It keeps a beat and has a musical voice t...

October 24 As we traveled, awed around every curve at what our eyes beheld, we shared how secure we feel in the mountains.  We reflected that while standing gazing out upon an ocean you realized the immensity and power of God, you are very vulnerable out there in the open.  (Unless it is a rocky shoreline with places to hide.)  Enemies are scouted out and battles are launched from the mountain tops.  Refuge in found in mountain caves! Oh, Lord, I thank you for the mountains.                I told my dear friend, we don't need to go to Ireland, look at this country side! It was 46 degrees and windy….brrrr on the top of this mountain! The vistas and burst of color were magnificent. The name of this overlook is "Lover's Leap". You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,  who formed the mountains by your p...

October 23 The tears were over due.  I was stagnant in my stance, not wanting to do anything.  The phone rang and on the other end was the voice of a dear friend wanting to know where I'd been the past two weeks.  Not able to fake my heartache, she heard the tears and said, "Come away with me today.  Get dressed! I'll be there to pick you up soon."  And up into the mountains we went. The beauty of this covered bridge reminded me of how God's love covers a multitude of sins. The depth of these crimson colors spoke volumes of the depth of God's love and his brilliance. Both being born on a mountain, my friend and I realized there was  no placed we'd rather be. It was a day where we stopped at one overlook after another amazed by the vastness of God's creations and also amazed that God never overlooks our needs.

October 22 Can't think of the last time I was in a bar for "last call."  But that phrase crossed my mind the other day while studying in Thessalonians and thinking about the Lord's return.  Beth Moore teaches on these two books and gets mighty riled up and excited over six strong words Paul preaches about... When the Lord Jesus is revealed!"   Life as we all knew it will change in a flash!  The pain, the trouble, the injustice and evil will BE GONE!  We won't be turning on our TV's for a news flash...we will be with the Lord, while others are watching the blazing fire flash in the sky and crying out in anguish that they missed the last call ! God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to your who are troubled, and to us as well.  This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.   2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We wil...

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and  grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12 October 21 Have you lost your joy lately?  It's easy to do.  Just the other day in a store/restaurant, the down-troddenness of others was about to wipe my smile away.  One lady had her nose in the air and made eye contact with no one,  while a couple at the next table must have eaten grumble grits for breakfast.  Then up across from a pile of potatoes in the produce section popped a young man from our church. He didn't know my name, but recognizing my face said, "Hey, I will see you at church tomorrow!"  I flashed my crooked smile back at  him.  Let's make our joy contagious! The joy that salvation through Christ brings us is cable of sustaining us through any storm, if we are willing spirits!

October 20 Stay willing, flexible and teachable were goals set in Beth  Moore's study Children of the Day,  as she taught on the equipping of the Spirit.  That all sounded good, then I asked myself what does that look like in reality. Am I willing to go anywhere God calls me to go or love anyone God calls me to love? (Oh, wait, He calls me to love everybody doesn't he.) Remember when the man with leprosy asked Jesus if he was willing to heal him?  What will our response be to Jesus when he asks us if we are willing...? Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said.  "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.   Matthew 8:3 Am I  flexible , which means  willing  to shift gears from my plans to His? Do I have patience and adhere to His teachings where  the first shall be last.   (Our grandson confessed that made no sense to him.) Does my flexibility allow me to not "have it my way...

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Psalm 73:28 October 17-18  For some reason, when I read the first part of this verse the honesty in the statement made me laugh. It sounded like… Don't know about you, but the only way I'm gonna survive this life is to stay close to God ….and that is exactly how I've felt the past couple weeks. Instead of the Little Engine that Could saying, "I think I can, I think I can," at one point I caught myself saying, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Don't know about you, but the emotions of a mother's heart can make me weak in the knees.  We don't want those we love to hurt. God, please heal my daughter in laws, now. In Jesus' Name, Amen

  October 17 My friend Janie (whom I've never met face to face, but pray with through email almost daily) took a concern of mine to our online prayer group.  I received a personal response from a woman in California and a connection was made immediately. Praying with people births deep relationship.   I wrote back to this new friend: "How blessed we are to be part of the Body of Christ.  My heart aches for those going through struggles without Him. He is mighty and worthy of praise, for He has done great things and the the best is yet to come!  Amen. How great you are, Sovereign Lord!  There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 2 Samuel 7:22 

October 16 Our long bearded son was in a business supply store and needed some assistance.  The lady serving him got on the radio and said, "There's a Duck Dynasty dude back here who needs some help."  Then she said, "That didn't offend you did it?  Do you love Jesus like those guys love Jesus?"  As he was affirming that he loved Jesus, she looked at the tattoo of Jesus and the soldiers at the tomb on his right arm and said, "Well, there's Jesus right there on your arm!" Whew, laughter is good for the soul! Remember what Bildad said: He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.    Job 8:21

I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2 October 15 I ran out to get this wee one a couple onesies yesterday.  My heart was heavy for all her mama has gone through these past two weeks.  Standing by the check out counter I became concerned as the woman behind the register began to moan and groan. I asked if she was ok and she said, "I think it's my sugar." The sounds of discomfort increased and she placed her hand on her chest. I asked, "Is it your sugar or your heart?" No, reply.  The next inquiry was if she was alone in the store.  She responded, "No, but please don't call anyone."   I opted to call on Jesus right then and there.  She closed her eyes.  I prayed for God's healing hand upon her, to restore her health, but to also give her wisdom as to what she should do.  Opening her eyes she said a quiet, "Thank you,...

October 14 Opening my Grandmother's Bible  I needed the Lord to give me direction.  When crisis strikes and I'm emotionally drained my brain shifts to SLOW gear.  My Bible opened to Ecclesiastes and I laughed as I looked down at the talking point to pray for my grandchildren. "Dating: Follow God's will from an early age."  Remember your Creator in the days of your youth before the days of trouble come. Ecclesiastes 12:1 So, Lord, I take your lead and stop at this time and lift up the dating lives of our eight grandchildren and any others to come. I ask that You give them wisdom in the choices of the people they date.  May they remember when they commit to do all things that please the Lord, that includes dating.  While of course I ask for protection and purity related to all aspects of their dating, I also ask that they date people who are pleasing in your sight and will challenge our grandchildren to live a more committed life fo...

October 13 I was up and at it before the sun one day last week, but by 7:45AM I was dragging and decided to take a power nap before hitting the road to pick up grandchildren.  I think I heard myself snoring!  :-)  At 9AM the gentle ding of my phone alarm awakened me, but I had not set it and there was no record in the phone that such an alarm had ever been set.   Realizing I needed to get a move on, I procrastinated and checked my emails, which led to thirty minutes of activity and I was still in my night gown.  All of a sudden our driveway sensor sounded and that had me bounding out of bed and tossing some clothes on quickly, but no one every came to the door and there was no car in the driveway. Coincidences you may say, but I said, "Thank you, God for keeping me on track."  We are loved by and serve a mighty God.  Those simple occurrences gave way to the thoughts of how I totally trust Him and know he will work all things (sorrows and jo...

October 11-12 Walking with a girlfriend early one morning this week, I instituted my spiritual discipline group assignment of "flash prayers."  Passing a house, where an elderly gentleman lives alone, I sensed the need to do a walk by shooting and out loud I shot up a prayer to God.  The best part of the whole episode was at the end I said, "Good-bye," as if we were on a phone call with God. It's nice to remember that God never hangs up…He hangs out waiting for communion with us. In all my prayers for all of you,  I always pray with joy. Philippians 1:4 

October 10 The fall weather has been glorious this week. Wednesday I grabbed a transistor radio (so old school) and went out on our property to take walk and listen to Victory FM.  The radio show was called "Grace to You."  While I can't remember the theme of the message, one quote stayed with me… God is in the abundance business. Do our prayers reflect that belief?  In this fallen world there are immense needs and our schedules are so packed that more often than not the only part of our prayers we get to are the Gimme ones. I'm laughing at that word, as I visually break it down.  A Bun Dance!  Hmm, like shake your bootie. How about thinking of life as " A Fun Dance" with the Lord.  He's placed us here for a season, extending to us an invitation to walk with him through an earthly life.  A life full of abundance, but also full of purpose…a preparation process for eternity to come. Let's take time today to reflect on God's a...

October 9 The other day I was beginning to fret, related to someone not being recognized.  I wanted to open my mouth and let the truth be known about another woman's contribution.  Petitioning God, as if he wasn't aware of what was occurring, I filled in him and expressed my frustration.  He told me to "Get over it!" Then an hour later, I watched him solve the problem in a creative manner that only God could have come up with. Calling my mentor, I said, "I've just got to share and give God the glory for what he just did." Made me think, we need to share more Give God the Glory Stories, for the things he does in our lives. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 14:7 

October 8 As most of you know, I'm not a drinker.  Our physician suggested that both my husband and I have a glass of wine at dinner, to aid in lowering our cholesterol. It really doesn't agree with me though.  A couple weeks ago, I came back home very grumpy after a 10 hour drive from Nashville.  It was equal to a nasty PMS attack.  I even told my husband, I have no clue why I am feeling this way. The next day I realized I drank sweet tea the whole ride home and had not had one glass of water and really think that played into the personalty change.  Night before last, I tried the glass of prescribed wine and did not like who it transformed me into.  With inhibitions down, I opened my mouth when it should have stayed closed. I apologized to my husband and said, "Can we just scratch that complaint I made?  This wine has given me hot flashes and put me in a bad mood like the lack of water and dehydration did a couple weeks ago." He began to laugh at ...

October 7 Anticipate: a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen; the act of preparing for something. In an attempt to clear up some space on my laptop, I was scrolling through my photos trying to part with a few and this took me back through the seasons at Shiloh. Currently, I'm anticipating the colors of fall!  Winter doesn't bring on quite the same excitement for me. Although, I do long for a huge snow storm and school to be cancelled, affording my hubby the opportunity to be stuck here with me sipping hot chocolate by a warm fire.  I've reached the age where I anticipate the eternal season of life in heaven with equal enthusiasm and the coming of the Lord a whole lot more than 4th of July Fireworks! Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15  and be filled with joyful anticipation. Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no ...

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10  October 6 Christian girlfriends are just the best.  I have a friend who lives about 45 minutes away in a small community called Penhook.  She was up to her eyeballs with life's frustrations.  Finally, flabbergasted with all that was going on in her life, she exclaimed, "The devil lives in Penhook!" We all broke out in laughter. I promised to write lyrics for a song by this name, which we felt would be destined to be a country hit! The following week, my husband had encountered an entourage of devil darts, so I wrote this group of friends asking if they had seen the headlines in our local paper. "The devil was seen exiting Penhook, last Wednesday afternoon,  but unfortunately he has been sited in Rocky Mt." Recognizing there is a spiritual battle is HUGE.  Seeking wisdom from the Spirit on how to withstand the...

  One of our sons with his newborn daughter. She's happiest when she is nuzzled in his big long beard. October 4-5 Life seems to be going by faster and faster.  I find it hard to cram everything into a day that needs to be done.  Sorting out the needs from the wants of the day is a task in itself.  The crazy state of our world adds to the sense of urgency. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6 Traveling to NC this weekend, I told my husband, I'd love to go back to college and take courses at this stage of my life.  (Like that is ever going to happen.)  What I really want is to hear from the Lord daily and feel like I fulfilled his purpose for me that day. Grand baby love seems to be trumping God ordained ministry these days, although I believe with all my heart that spending time with these grand children is a large part of the arena of my calling. My prayer this weekend is that all eigh...

And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars- all the heavenly array-do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshipping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. Deuteronomy 4:19 October 3   In the above verse, Moses is laying down the law for the Israelites! :-)  I tell you what, the sunset was so amazing the other night driving home from North Carolina it did cause me to pull over in awe.  There are so many things, God made and man made,  which could easily become idols.    When we say, "That is amazing!" Let's be sure to add…God. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:2

  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 October 2 How many things are sitting around your life that you do not use to the full extent? I know my camera, phone and computer can do extensively more than I rely on them to do. For those of us who have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, we have a power supply, a friend, and a guide who often goes unused in our lives.  The Holy Spirit is hanging out 24-7, we need to call on him more.  My guess is most of us have not begun to tap into what is available to us through the Spirit. Wisdom Hunters wrote today: "The Spirit's fire enflames our faith to burn brightly in our submitted souls . He satisfies our thirsty spirit, heals our broken hearts, comforts us in our concerns, leads u...

October 1 Ha, think I'm overwhelmed. I wrote this night before last, forgot to post it and when I just pulled it up I had dated it September 31!  Time for some rest! #8 is doing great!  I wasn't even in the door of the hospital room, I had not laid eyes on this young lady and I began to cry tears of joy and I think also relief.  The same thing happened 3 weeks ago when I walked in the hospital to meet our newest grandson.  It's a powerful emotion.  Later in the day, I pondered what causes that to happen. In addition to the automatic elation involved in loving this little person, who is part of your heritage, and the relief that the baby has been safely delivered and healthy; the realization that God has chosen your child to parent this little bundle is a big part of the emotion. My husband reminded me the other night…these children belong to God and are on loan to our children to raise and hopefully train up to love Him. Each time I've encountered a newb...