Boojoyful

Fun Flashback of a snow day with my oh so patient caregivers. February 1 Not sure what's going on, but my head is definitely not right.  Dizziness and light headedness have taken the wind out of my sails.  I wanted to be in church today though and was so thankful I went. Unfortunately,  I came home and slept for three hours and missed a glorious day outside. Our precious praise band from Liberty University sang the Hillsong song "Healer" and I wept as I sang along. I think it will be my "morning song" for awhile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOn2ml7K9tQ We know so many people facing major health battles and lifted their names to the Lord as we sang along. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. Psalm 103:2-4 

A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Proverbs 27:9 January 30-31 As I shared earlier the darkness was settling in, but God performed a rescue!  To lighten the mood, he impressed upon the heart of one of my closest church friends of 30 years to come visit at Shiloh.  When our children were young we were Sunday school buddies and lived only blocks apart. Several days a week would walk and craft together.   Then each  of our families moved away and she went back to work full-time.  We have missed one another greatly.  Wednesday night she called and said, "I have the day off!  I'm coming to visit and bringing lunch!"  It was a fabulous day.  I pulled out a couple small canvases, paints and brushes and painted for hours!  Afterwards, I went straight to bed with an exhausted smile on my face. She ...

"God spoke. 'Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven's sky! Separate Day from Night.  Mark seasons and days and years. Lights in Heaven's sky to give light to Earth.' And there it was. God saw that it was good. It was evening, it was morning-Day Four." Genesis 1:14-15, 19 January 29 Being remembered is a warm fuzzy.  Even though snow hindered my original birthday plans this week, being stuck at home in the snow was okay and probably a much needed recovery from the festive life that comes with grandchildren underfoot. I started not to write this "journal" post, being that  Boojoyful  doesn't like to admit when she's not joyful.  The enemy is so clever in his attacks and earlier this week, he took two statements from different people I love and smacked me into a hole.  Fortunately, Jesus is a fisher of men and has pulled me out. A close friend of over 40 years, whom I adore and know would give me the shirt off his back, called wit...

"Give thanks to God, he is good and  his love never quits." 1 Chronicles 15:34 January 28 I like to finish what I started.  I had to put away a 2000 piece puzzle I had not completed because I had a toddler coming to visit and I didn't want to have to ban him from the puzzle area.  I realized, that puzzle was not of eternal value! Currently, I'm trying to juggle three Bible studies and memorizing verses from these coloring pages and I don't want to leave any blanks!  Again...it is not of eternal value if I have a blank space. It's ok to scrap a recipe which is going poorly, to toss out a knitting project or mow only half the yard.  Where I don't want to falter is in my faith walk.  God's love for us never quits and our faith in Him shouldn't waiver.  While the word quit  cannot be found in the NIV, this verse about "keep on keeping on" spoke to me. "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong....

Oh, my man I love him so.  We've been having fun! January 27 Several times in my life I've had altercations with individuals which included the other person saying to me: "And you call yourself a Christian!" I'd like someone to take a snapshot of my facial expression when that is the defense shot at me. Being a Christian doesn't mean we are perfect. While we desire to be like Christ, we fall way short. Being a Christian means we are forgiven and we are to be forgivers! The real life  story of Joseph has always filled me with hope.  While altercations and sticky situations surrounded him, so did God.   She Reads Truth has a wonderful piece written on his life, which I think is really worth the read. The link it below. "Real success is a transformed heart, mind, and life.  These are gifts of God's great grace. And God has already extended His favor to us, for He ' has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing'  Ephes...

Missing my girl. January 26 A daughter is a treasure and it was a real treat to have this one home the past 5 days!  My husband was at school shoveling sidewalks in hopes of getting the students back soon and I sat quietly with a cup of tea doing a Bible study lesson.  One assignment was to write down the lyrics of a few hymns or praise songs that put you in a worshipful mood.  Boy did I have fun, singing alone in this house! This is going to be lengthy, but I want to share a few...   "Not For A Moment (After All)" by Meredith Andrews You were reaching through the storm   Walking on the water Even when I could not see   In the middle of it all When I thought You were a thousand miles away Not for a moment did You forsake me   Not for a moment did You forsake me [Chorus] After all You are constant After all You are only good After all You are sovereign Not for a moment will You forsake me   Not for a moment will ...

This is the first year we've attempted sledding on this advanced slope, which heads towards the water! Praise God for a grandpapa who was willing to guard the bottom! I opted out this year! January 25 We live at the bottom of a 1/2 mile long driveway.  As the snow poured down Friday morning, I heard my husband say out loud: "There's no way a rescue vehicle would make it down here."  I haven't felt the best the past few days, not sure if it's the meds or fatigue, but those words started to make me anxious and then I quickly remembered whose in control.  My reply to that statement was..."Well, if something happens to me, just pack me out there in the snow until the funeral home can come and get me." While I never mastered the black diamond slopes in my skiing days and will stay away from the advanced sledding slopes at Shiloh, I do feel like I've moved onto some advance stages in my faith.  Heartache, grief, fear and being generally o...

Snow Equipment! Kids Shovels and Creme of Wheat to keep them warm! January 23-24 This past week people in our area have prepared to the best of their ability for the Blizzard Jonas to blow into town. He showed off some pretty funky stuff yesterday and its still coming down.  I didn't buy enough onions for soups or milk for the amount of hot chocolate being downed here, but we will survive. The word prepared  keeps hanging with me.  There are times you just aren't prepared; like strokes, heart attacks or a spouse up and leaving you.  We can always be prepared to turn to the Lord though. Clicking on Biblegateway and entering prepared ...established a great look at Christ. An angel prepared Mary and Joseph to be the parents of Jesus. John the Baptist was chosen to be a forerunner to Christ and was obedient to "prepare the way for the Lord."  Jesus was diligent to try to prepare the disciples for his departure and he had these words for us re...

The Night Before the Storm Hanging Snowball Lights and Gearing Up For Snow Themed Games Praising the Lord for our daughter and her two boys getting here safely today! January 22 Soups on!  Cookies are baked!  And Papa has a new batch of beach tunes on the stereo. As we listened to some of these old love songs,   I couldn't help but think of them in terms of my love for Christ and even the love the disciples had for Him.  As we listened to  "My Whole World Ended the Moment You Left Me " By David Ruffin, I told my husband that is what the disciples were singing when Jesus was taken away in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then they could have sung.... "I'm  Gonna Miss You " by The Artistics... but as they thought back on Jesus' lessons of forgiveness a theme song for him could be... " Never Gonna Give You Up No Matter How You Treat Me "  Jerry Butler The best news for believers can be sung in these lyrics! " Our Day Will ...

"But God demonstrates his own love toward us;  in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 January 21 Who does that!  Who sacrifices their son for sinners?  God himself.  It's a complicated trio, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but a masterful plan!  I'm not sure when in life I finally grasped the concept and I know most of the time I don't live like the Holy Spirit is actually in me, but He is! "Tell me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear," for there is no greater life from which to learn. When was the last time you listened to or sang that whole song? Click here on this link, as it has the lyrics and some pictures that will help implant in our brains the way Jesus lived and loved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqpCOCP2RUU The third part of the Trinity is God Almighty.  Indescribable!  The most gracious Father and Creator of all things.

January 20 Sunday morning we finally had a few hours of snow. It was beautiful, but all melted away by noon. Looks like we will get a whopper this weekend! Our children live in six other cities and I have their weather forecasts on my phone, so each morning I scroll across to see what they are facing weather wise.  It's quite varied from Minnetonka, Minnesota to Tampa, Florida. Then I begin to pray for their lives. There's not as much variety in the issues they are facing in life. While some have spouses or children and others don't, they all have hearts, minds, souls and a faith leading them as they wade through life's uncertainties.  I pray for some generalities, but then the specifics they have requested us to pray over. Monday's Biblegateway verse was: " No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a...

Our front planter early Sunday morning as the snow began to all. January 19 Sniff, sniff, sniff. I awakened at 3AM with a startle at what I thought smelt like smoke. Calmly and wide awake my husband stated, "It's the fireplace. Our heat has been off for 2 hours and it's 12 degrees outside. The power company says the earliest they can get here is 6:30AM.  Maybe I should go outside and see if a squirrel got in the transformer?" "What good would dead squirrel hunting in the below freezing temps in the dark do? Stay here in this cozy bed and pray," was my middle of the night advice. The first verse that came to mind in my prayer was " Lord, give us a peace that passes understanding. " Philippians 4:7  "Do you think we will loose our Homestead creamery ice cream?" was my only concern.  His most intelligent response, "All we have to do is set it outside!" At 3:57 there were several dings in the room, as clocks, phon...

Brrr...frigid here this morning.  This snowman is surviving in my kitchen! My email seems frozen though, so if you don't get an answer from me, I'm not snubbing you! January 18 A girlfriend stopped by the other day with a little sign she saw in our local Christian book store. She said, "It just jumped out at me and said, ' Boo ,' all over it." The sign reads:  " I'm a mess, but I'm a beautiful mess. I'm His masterpiece and that's enough! " We are all messes which need fixing up!  "Fixer Upper" is one of my favorite HGTV shows and it was so much fun to come across this article and read that Chip and Joanna love Jesus!  Be sure to listen to Joanna's testimony!  Such a precious story. " For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,  "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   Jeremiah 29:11 http://qpolitical.com/after-last-ni...

"There is no fear in love, instead, perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18 January 16-17 I was blessed to have an earthly father who was an amazing provider and problem solver. His engineering mind solved many a stumbling block in a diversity of categories.  Because of these traits, I feared very little as a child.  Interestingly, looking back I realize he could never solve my mother's alcoholism or my sin...cover-up certain consequences yes, but not the heart issues. Now he's gone, but You are still here Father.   You've allowed me to bask in your love, through all kinds of heartache, instead of face obstacles with fear. Today, I pray for those who fear they will never marry or have children; for those sitting in nursing homes fearing no one will come visit or what death will be like; for those who desire to have a college education, but fear that reality will never come; for those who are fearful of legal complicati...

January 15 Meditating on these scriptures as I color has been quite therapeutic and positioned me to hear from the Lord.  As I colored in " For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain." I decided to look up remain  on the computer dictionary. Remain- "continue to exist; continue to possess a particular quality." So even if this earth begins to pass away, God's love for us will continue to exist! "He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them-he remains faithful ( continues to exist)  forever."   Psalm 146:6 " As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in ( or continue to possess the quality of being my child and accepting)  my love.  " I remain confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13

"The Lord your God is with you!  The Mighty One will save you. He will rejoice over you with . You will rest in his love. He will sing and be joyful about you." Now there's a happy thought for today. January 14 Rolling over in the dark, I rummaged my fingers through the clutter on my bedside table, trying to find my phone.  I'd been in early morning worship mode and the Spirit gave me a little poem. I knew if I didn't write it down I'd never remember it when the sun came up. "This is not a season for "anx" and fear, but a time for turning to God in praise and prayer." I may have already shared that our pastor has called on our church to pray at 7AM, 1PM and 9PM every day in January.  He sends us a text at those times, which says "I Believe".  The emphasis of our 7AM prayer time is to be worshiping the Lord!    This morning, as I began that time, a song from the past came to mind, so I checked YouTube for Majest...

January 13 Well, my New Year's resolution to keep Sunday's holy and restful was blown out of the water the first Sunday, but I need to remember that phrase "imperfect progress." There are more Sundays ahead. A study of Revelation, which I'm currently enrolled in through Bible Study Fellowship, has prompted me to practice the process of worship and praise more often.  The teaching leader shared a story of a young man who took a challenge from his peers where whenever they gave him a specific sign, no matter where he was he was to hit the ground.  How much fun would it be if we as brothers and sisters in Christ, we had a sign we gave one another that when we saw each other we were to lift our hands in praise to the Lord no matter where?  I'm so wanting to do this! For now, as I may not find many takers on the impromptu public praise parties, I want to memorize Revelation 7:12 and recite that first thing every morning and again before I close my eyes ...

January 12 Yesterday was a banner day!  Absolutely no head pain all day!  Even went out to lunch with a friend and was gone 2 1/2 hours!  w00T!  Thank You Lord for progress! A great day to sing Psalm 136... "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever."

I love these photos from a weeks ago.   There was no holiday snow, so these three hiked the hill at Shiloh and went leaf sledding!   "Be  joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12 January 11 Being a bit anxious about this week's impending surgery, I felt such peace when I read this quote. "Your rest is not to be found in figuring your life out,  but in trusting the One who has it all figured out for your good and his glory."   Paul David Tripp The clocking was ticking in on the time I'd need to go off the Plavix (a week before surgery).  My favorite nurse on the planet and two cherished friends, all made their surgery concerns known on the same day.  The consensus was for me to visit my primary care doctor and share these concerns. God opened the door for an appointment the afternoon of the next day, which was when I had to stop taking the medication. The concern. which really caught her attenti...

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22 Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 January 9-10 Recently, we had the blessing of a visit from a very cute toddler.  This little man cruised and climbed through our home with great agility, while proudly toting around items that he found in his path.  I feared for his bare little toes or a possible hernia, as I watched him strain to carry a 10 pound hand weight.  Later on, I tried not to panic as I saw him entered our tiled family room carrying a large, ceramic cross.  Within moments I watched it crash onto the tile and break.  This little fellow had older siblings in the room who stood bug-eyed awaiting my reaction.  The older brother said, "We can fix it!"  Calmly, I picke...

It's basketball season! Three generations showing off their shooting techniques. Ole Papa still has the magic touch! January 8 Genesis 10 is titled "The Table of Nations."  Did you realize the whole earth was populated from Noah's three sons?  Reading this genealogy I wondered what there was for me to glean.   In chapter nine it mentioned Noah planted the first vineyard. I actually googled "How to grow grapes."  Looks pretty complicated, especially on a deer ladened property. We have five sons who have married and moved to various parts of our country.  There have been times I've wished we'd had a family business for them all to go into and they lived close by.  Looking at how God sent Noah's sons off in three different directions to populate the world, I realized God has a purpose in how he stirs our hearts. I'm thankful our five sons have found wives and careers which are purposeful and fulfilling. It's always good to see the...

Unusually warm temperatures made for some great outdoor fun the 1st weekend in January. The brrrrr that is going on now had not occurred! January 7 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 Why do we study the Bible?  Some seek knowledge and desire truth, others want wisdom.  How many individuals open the living Word with a selfless attitude of total obedience,  truly believing the hope they hunger for, the peace they seek, and the answers they need will be found through a life of surrendering? "We were not made to live independent, self-directed lives.  We were not meant to exist according to our own little self-oriented plans, living for our own moments of glory.  No, we were created to live for him."  Paul David Tripp  Most of us head into work awaiting instructions.  Even as teachers/instructors there are  guidelines and goals t...

"...Jesus said, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' And the blind man said to Him, 'Rabboni,  I want to regain my sight! ' And Jesus said to him, 'Go; your faith has made you well.'  Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road." Mark 10: 51-52 January 6 One of our pastors preached on the perseverance of Bartimaeus, the blind man, who cried out over and over to Jesus.  His punch point was for us to "Have great faith and follow Jesus."  When the  Mark  passage above flashed up on the big screen at church, the words  "I want to regain my sight" grabbed me and took me in the direction of evaluating how easily I can get off track from the vision to which God has called me.  Those visions, directions, paths, etc. have changed more often than the foliage on the trees during my life. Some which He has called me to  which I may need to allow to be re-birthed.  ...

New Year's Eve by the Fire Pit January 5 Narrowing in on the four month post stroke mark, I keep wanting things to be back to normal. We had four fun days with one of our sons and his family, but at the end of day four my head was splitting.  Same ole, same ole. I do well, pacing myself, then think I'm good to go and push past my limit and pay for it.  Oh well, it was worth it! Studying Genesis is worth it too!  Yesterday, I was in chapters 6-7 and wrote in my notebook... "Okay, God, I'm listening. First of all, You did this amazing ark construction with a 600 year old man.  At 58 I'm already feeling like I've lived a full life and need to just ride out the remainder of my days enjoying my grandchildren. NOT.  Today one of my best friends started a new 9-5 job!  Another friend had to go back to work full time at 57.  I need to live expectantly and look for what it is You want me to do.  Living in a retirement community messes with tha...

January 4 Camping out in Genesis brings the quick reality of the power of sin.  While it didn't take long for Adam and Eve to taste of that apple, my sweet tooth relates to that temptation.  But Cain killing his brother, Abel, saddens me to great depths.  Sibling rivalry riveted the first family! If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it. Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field,  that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Genesis 4:7-8  From early on, I've told our own children...be whatever you want to be, live wherever you want to live, but I ask two things of you... 1st   To love the Lord with all your heart. 2nd  To love and be there for your siblings forever. Now that they have married and many are parents, I'd add... Be faithful to your spouse, make them smil...

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.   In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 January 2-3 Looking out at a new year, brings refreshment, which often accompanies the hope for change.  Looking back on the past four months, I certainly hope 2016 isn't filled with health issues for anyone in my family.  Yet, John 16:33 reminds me there will be tribulation!  So, my plan is to live by faith expecting the up and downs.  While on the mountain tops, I want to pray for those in the valleys and when in the valley myself I want to recognize God is there with me and he places beautiful lilies in the valley that shouldn't be missed. Over our Christmas break I read a "Can't put it down" book,  Cancer Mom , written by our pastor's wife, Susan Briggs Parris.  Below is the review I placed on Amazon. "Currently facing health issues of my own and having ...