Boojoyful

March 30 Recently, a friend gave me the book, A Holy Roar , Seven Ways to Worship. It was a 70 degree February day and I sat on the patio, read the whole book and had a praise party!   Just Jesus and me!   Worship it transforming. Like whistling, it's difficult to be depressed or anxious when you are in praise mode! I used to struggle with our remembrance of the crucifixion being called Good Friday, but I've come to grasp it was the "goodest" thing Christ could do for us! "We despised him and rejected him-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by.  He was despised, and we didn't care. Yet is was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins!  Isaiah 53:3-4 TLB Take four and a half minutes to sing praise to our holy, holy God. Click here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_VR-zwp2KA ...

March 29 To Be...Delivered You are thinking....Hmm? Is she talking about babies? She is waiting on a couple of those! Maybe it's about the UPS man? How about delivered  from what entangles us? From what do we need to be freed...addictions, unhealthy relationships, pride, fear... "Moses answered the people, ' Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still .'" Exodus 14:13-14 With God, all deliverances are possible. The prayer that teaches us how to pray, speaks of recognizing our need to be delivered from evil that tempts us around every turn. "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  An...

March 28  What is forgiveness? What does it look like when it happens?  Thomas Watson, an English Puritan preacher from the 1600's had this definition:   "Forgiving those who have wronged us includes: resisting revenge, not returning evil for evil, wishing them well, grieving at their calamities, praying for their welfare, seeking reconciliation so far as it depends on you, and coming to their aid in distress." Are you up for that? I'm certainly glad God made a way for us to be forgiven. Day after day! Thank You, Jesus. " Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, who's sins are covered."  Psalm 32:1 " Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 2:38

March 27 I Can Only Imagine is a FABULOUS movie!  TBN also did an excellent special on Bart Millard and the Mercy Me band story.  Grandmothers, be encouraged, his Meemaw/Mawmaw had quite the impact on his spiritual life! https://www.crosswalk.com/culture/music/bart-millard-mawmaws-boy-1347339.html While some of the storyline was adapted for drama  (see  https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a19514157/i-can-only-imagine-movie/ ), the movie packs a powerful punch about forgiveness and the reality that Jesus died so everyone who believes in Him can be flawless. During this Holy Week check out another Mercy Me song and give thanks for the blood that was shed on Calvary to make us flawless.  Let's all pray that someone we know and have been praying for will be introduced to God's amazing grace! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLlLPZderk Flawless Lyrics There’s got to be more  Than going back and forth From doing right to doing wrong ‘...

Our egg hunt has some great coupons for the grands to cash in. March 26 Back in the 90's our family was visiting The Homestead Resort and the world heavy weight champion, Riddick Bowe, was doing a training exhibition there.  When we went up to the sporting clays area and he was sitting on the porch, so I asked if I could take a picture of him with our six children. For years Bowe contended  for that title.  We have a contender in our lives, fighting for us!  He is the same contender who David called out to in Psalm 35. "Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me... Awake, and rise to my defense!  Contend for me, my God and Lord." Psalm 35:1, 23 Our God is mighty!  When we pray, He fights for us! Our God is victorious! Mark Batterson wrote a statement on defense that I totally agree with:  "I made a determination a few years ago that I wasn't going to defend myself against any...

March 24 Tonight is more than likely the last snow of the season.  I'm sitting here at 11:30 PM watching it wanting to hold onto it. Ever so peaceful. Ever so quiet. A blanket of snow falling from the sky.  Tonight I receive a call that the father of my best friend from college had died. I loved him deeply.  We knew it was coming. He had a stroke exactly five months ago and had never recovered his mobility.  Even so, you want to hold onto those you love. I'm siting before the window, watching the flakes fall and reflecting back on an amazing life, trying to absorb that like I'll never see these exacts snowflakes on earth again, I will never make earthly memories with Papo again. Death does cause us to ponder. He was a man of great wealth and amazing accomplishments, who welcomed others in as his equal.  The first time I met this man from Puerto Rico he was flying his private plane into a small airport in Orlando, to take my girlfriend and me out to breakf...

Ha, Im hopeful our daughter-in-law doesn't fall on these adventures she takes! March 23 She's back!  The white bird flew into the cove last Friday morning! While she is a symbol of the Holy Spirit for me, she also signals the hope of spring! Hope  "a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen. (Apple dictionary.) In a sermon on 1 Peter 1-13, John Piper said this about hope. "Hope is not an action of the body. It is an experience of the soul. Peter is commanding us to experience hope…Finally, Peter tells us what the object of the hope is—what we are hoping in, namely, the grace of God. ' Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ .' When Jesus comes back, he is bringing grace to the people of God. Grace is on the way. Hope in it. Hope in it fully! Hope fully in God's grace. Christianity is, first, God graciously, freely acting to save his people; and, second, man hoping fully in ...

I was utterly amazed when this verse came to me from two different places on the same day! March 22  Love, love, love this verse!  It even tops " but this woman is driving me crazy...she's wearing me out with her constant requests!"   Luke 18:5 It's worthy of a postIt note.  It's worthy of a POSTER!  It so totally Jesus! -be utterly amazed, for I am going to do something that you would not believe even if you were told." Hakakkuk 1:5 If you have time to dig little deeper today, check out this c0mmentary by Chuck Swindoll. I think you will be amazed at the similarities of today and the quandary the prophet Habakkuk faced pondering the state of Judah.  Swindoll says, "So much evil thrived, completely in the open, but God remained strangely silent. Where was He? How long would He allow this mess to continue?"   Been there, thought that! http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-minor-prophets/habakkuk ...

March 21 You know the feeling you have when you hear there's been a party, an outing or a book/dinner club formed with a group you consider you friends and you weren't included.  Maybe it came in college days when that invitation was not extended to join the sorority or fraternity of your choice.  It happens in Christian circles as well...sorry there's no room in this Bible study or prayer group. Well, it never happens with Jesus!  His table is never full and his door is always open for walk ins! The morning I was writing this (these posts aren't always time sensitive), I had awakened early with sciatica pain.  My eyeballs weren't really ready to open, but I heard God say, "Come on!  Get up and be with Me. You have a busy day, let's be together before you begin."  What an invitation. He always wants to be with us. He invites us on fishing trips! "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people. " ...

Friend, drawing a prayer circle in the sand.  The outcome of her prayers was more than anyone could have imagined! Another crazy friend pulling her mattress and boxspring  behind her lawn mower so she could  stop and lay on her face and pray while out doing yard work!   (JK, but I love this photo and ingenuity of how to move your mattress to the basement.) March 20 " but this woman is driving me crazy...she's wearing me out with her constant requests!"  Luke 18:5 I just finished reading Day 10 in Mark Batterson’s devotional book,  Draw the Circle .   On Day 10 the verse is “ The woman is driving me crazy . ” Luke 18:5  NLT     It is the story of the persistent widow and I love it! Batterson writes: “We aren’t told what injustice took place, but she was on a mission. Maybe her son was falsely imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit.  Maybe the man who molested her daughter was still on the streets...

March 19 It was a double whammy day scripture wise. God knew my heart was heavy with the burdens I've been asked to confidentially carry, so he plopped this passage in front of me twice that day. " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."    Matthew 11:28-10 " Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."   Psalm 55:22 We are all carrying them for someone. The prayer requests that are too painful to share in big groups because of fear, shame or lack of faith.  The medical diagnosis that you haven't quite accepted and don't know how you want to go forward facing, the marital problems that you are praying will be resolved and know it's better not to air dirty laundry, the l...

" A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children ." Proverbs 13:22 March 16 Grandchildren truly are a blessing. This godly grandfather is passing on a variety of legacies to his grandchildren, but joke telling and bringing about laughter is probably what they will best remember him for. Oh, he is loved by the little folks! Happy Birthday Papa!

When winter meets spring. March 15 " In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."   Proverbs 16:9 Oh, the plans we make! I had packed up the snowman decorations too early in anticipation of Easter.  The snow came and so did the grandsons, so I rushed and pulled out a few festive snowmen, placing them amongst the Easter decor! The Proverb above is so true. How many plans have we made in our lives without consulting the Lord?  Oh, the mistakes I could have avoided.  My paths could have been a lot straighter. " In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."   Proverbs 3:6 How many times do we cry out "Why Lord?"  Just this week I did this and God gave me a thought felt answer in Mark Batterson's book Draw the Circle . "This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in him. "  John 9:3 (Referencing the blind man and people questioning Jesus on why this ...

March 14 Friday night, my husband headed to a nearby funeral home to attend the visitation for a friend's father. The crowd was staggering and the wait long to offer condolences and remember a man, who loved the Lord and his family.  As people had the time to speak, they were able to reference this man very well, because of the way he had lived. " He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer."   Acts 10:1-2 Listen as Paul references a high standard for leaders in the church. "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity...and not a new convert, so that he will not bec...

March 13 Last week I had the privilege of spending time with a friend, who was actively dying after a long battle with lung cancer.  In that situation, I'm always taken back to the last hours with my parents before they finished their earthly journey and I'm thankful for the people who comforted me. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."      2 Corinthians 1:3-4 That same day I received a text from a forever friend requesting prayer for a breast cancer biopsy. This friend is always so life giving  that I'm struggling thinking of the battle that may lay ahead.  In her text she said to me, "Remember, we are to be thankful for our trials. You were with your stroke." She was a step ahead of me with her faith walk.   ...

Our grandson's self portrait! March 12 Had one of those days recently where you tell God, “I don’t want to play this game anymore.”  Won’t go into specifics, but I came home wounded from one situation and emotionally spent from another conversation.  My husband texted to check on me knowing I was facing some possibly uncomfortable situations that day.  I told him I was too tired to talk and was crawling up in the lap of Jesus.  Picking up my daily scripture card, I read a very fitting verse.  Thank You, Jesus “ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint .”  Isaiah 40:30-31  As I sat before the Lord, the words  like minded  came to mind.  So I plugged them into Biblegateway "... then make my joy complete by being like-minded, havi...

March 9 After a meal my husband often says, "I went to the ATM machine."  Ate Too Much!  It's easy to fill up at the dinner table, at the gas pump, or a grocery cart, but how often do we take advantage of the opportunity to be filled up by the Holy Spirit.  Old and New Testament Christians, who have gone before, us can testify to the reality of the Holy Spirit!  He's a gift that keeps on giving, but we have to empty ourselves of "us" to give Him the room to fill us up!  This world would look much differently if we lived within His power and not our own. "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'See, I have chosen Bezalel...I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.' " Exodus 31:1-5 "But you will receive power when the Holy Sp...

March 8 Sunday after Sunday, our pastor reminds us of the importance to be in community. To worship together and to join a connect group and fellowship with one another during the week.  God did not create us to walk this earth alone.  Jesus called the twelve disciples and they were told to go make more disciples and establish churches where believers could encourage one another. "The concept of self-reliance is wholly foreign to the Christian faith. We are created to need God and others.  We are designed for interdependence and community. There is no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian...Trade self-reliance for the gift of dependence on the Spirit and interdependence with the saints."  Jen Wilkins A great example of this is in Exodus 18 where Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, is speaking wisdom over him recognizing his potential burn out. He's advising Moses on sharing the load with other qualified men. " Moses' father in law replied, 'What you are...

March 7 "But  seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of it's own."   Matthew 6:33-34 Check out The Message translation.  It's challenging me to change! " If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers- most of which are never even seen-don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?  What I'm trying to to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."   Matthew 6:33-34  ...

March 6 Hopefully you were able to watch the tribute to Billy Graham on the Fox Network Sunday night. What a testimony of a life sold out for Jesus.  Also, what a testimony to a marriage and love that stood the test of time and separation.  While the photos of Graham with rulers of nations are impressive, its the ones of him with his wife Ruth that thrill my heart. Christ, our Bridegroom, lovingly has chosen the church to be his bride!  In biblical times there was a betrothal period where the bride and groom were separated until the wedding. The bride's responsibility was to be faithful to the groom until he came to get her!  Think about that. Guess you had to be looking your best everyday, because you were not going to get a text that he was headed your way. Likewise for us, we will not get advance notice that Jesus is coming back to us, so we should be found faithful to Christ until our wedding ceremony when we will be established in our etern...