Boojoyful

Thankful for friends who have shared their vehicles with me these last weeks! July 31 " Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."   Romans 12:12 Oh, Lord, I'm trying to be patient as this ankle heals.  I allowed my feathers to be ruffled the other day and really had to bite my tongue and seek You. "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet." 1 Thessalonians 5:8 The other day I was greatly offended by an employee in relation to me needing help getting into a facility. My first response was to call her manager, the second to call the owner, the third to air my grievance to my friends who also frequent this place. Instead I prayed  and remembered a reprimand or response from me could be a stumbling block and hinder any opportunity of me ever sharing the gospel with her.  My reaction to her reflected my human nature and "right t...

Some men praying with my husband on our patio. What a powerful picture. August 1 Last week the summer women of Shiloh did a study on being worshipful.   Hope you enjoy the study this week. Day 1 What is Worship?  Go away to a quiet place and practice worshipping the Lord.  Make “who” He is your single focus. “ O nations of the world, recognize the Lord, recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.  Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!  Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”   1 Chronicles 16:28-31(NLT) Kneel “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!...

My little matey. July 30 I awakened Saturday morning and my first prayer was "Lord, change me from the inside out." An old 2008 Hillsong song came to mind.  May it bless you today as we remember who our Everlasting Father is and what He created us for...His pleasure.  May we chose to worship Him today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-afZJ9_TIM

From She Reads Truth July 28-29 Summer is winding down. Teachers are heading back to school to ready their rooms for fall. We've had another exciting year here at Shiloh of offering hospitality in various forms.  During our women's study on this topic I came across this acrostic and wanted to share these characteristics of hospitable people. A Person Of Christian Character Who Practices Biblical Hospitality Is . . . H—Humble Humility is the opposite of self-sufficiency and is a necessary prerequisite if I am going to be of service to my heavenly Father. I can exercise humility by choosing to step out of my "comfort zone" and invite individuals into my home with whom I may not be totally at ease or those who may have unrealistic expectations about the event (1 Pet 5:5b). O—Obedient The primary evidence that individuals are Christians is their choice to obey all of their Father's commands. I demonstrate obedience by obeying all of my Fath...

These two older brothers love building forts with boxes. They used a diaper box to create the perfect train car for their baby brother! July 27 Paul certainly exuded the gift of building up others in their faith and encouraging those believers to keep on keeping on in the faith and build up others! " Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 " We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater." 2 Thessalonians 1:3  We don't know what the next minute holds, but we know who holds on to us and we should take the confidence we have in Christ and help the next generation build on that same faith. I don't like to run out of things. If the gas tank gets to a quarter of a tank, I want to fill it up.  I like to always have at least two extra roll...

Our son's new baby boy. July 26 One dictionary definition of invest is: "Devote one's time, effort or energy into a particular undertaking with the expectation of worth while results." We invest in our marriages, our schooling, our jobs, our homes;  in parenting, in financial endeavors, and hobbies.  If we calculated the amount of money and time we put towards these things and compared that to the money and time we a lot to learning about God and spreading the Gospel, what would the comparison look like? " I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways."   Psalm 119:15 "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."   Joshua 1:8 Being invested in God and furthering the Gospel is an excellent precursor to walking through the rest of life.

These young ladies preformed 4 fabulous praise songs with "moves" for our women's study. July 25 Recently our ladies summer study worked our way through a She Reads Truth study on hospitality.  The first three days I found myself journaling things I need to recognize.... Recognize that God has created everyone with a purpose. Recognize the spiritual and financial needs of others. Recognize the lives and existence of those around us and recognize they have real needs. We get so caught up in our own lives that we fail to recognize what God is doing in the lives of others and that He may be calling us to walk alongside those people for a greater purpose. " When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed." Matthew 14:35 A neighbor brought me a Christian fiction book called Masterpieces , by Francine Rivers, to read while I'm off m...

July 24 There has been some intense tubing around here this summer and cries for "big waves"!  My husband worked an in-water boat show last weekend, which was Pirate weekend here on Smith Mt Lake, and all the boaters stirred up some major waves and created rough waters for sure. My prayer list shows that many, many people are facing rough waters  related to health and relationships.  When life gets choppy we need to cry out to the One who is with us in the boat of life, Jesus. "Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion.  The disciples woke him up, shouting, 'Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?' When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Silence! Be still!'  Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.  Then he asked them,'Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?'"    Mark 4:38-40 Again and again "Be still" is appearing be...

July 23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vbg2dpX-EY Brandon Heath All I've ever needed is Your Love

These two are living the abundant lake life this summer. July  20 " The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;  I came that they  may have life, and have  it  abundantly."   John 10:10 I feel that a bit of summer "life" has been stolen from me with this broken ankle. There is so much I cannot do.  I'm only a week into this recovery, but I've realized I must not dwell on what has been taken from me, but on what I can still offer others.  It is possible to live abundantly with a broken ankle! (Just not in the water.) I'm so thankful to have family here enjoying Shiloh and keeping me company as my favorite days of summer tick away. In this particular passage Jesus is pointing out to the Pharisees that they are thieves, tools of the devil, teaching false doctrine by putting "salvation" requirements on people.  Rather than bringing life, they bring death. What is the thief trying to steal from you?  Peace, conf...

Whew!  So much to connect. July 19 For many churches the tradition of Sunday morning Sunday School has gone by the wayside and weekly small groups gather in homes, at church or other locations throughout the week.  Our church calls these small groups, "Connect Groups" because it is our way of connecting with one another and deepening relationship.  They are also a way of caring for one another.   This past week members of our connect group have taken me to urgent care, cooked us meals, help baby sit our infant grandson and me, loaned us a knee scooter, a wheel chair and hosted our Bible Studies.  It has been a humbling,  unbelievable out powering of love. "Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ."    Galatians 6:2 Staying connected to God's Word is critical for spiritual growth.  There are so many resources and ways to do that we have no excuse for not feeding upon God's Word daily. "Yes, I am he v...

Shiloh at night July 18 In our summer study we are looking into being hospitable.  One day's lesson was on "Making Room for Strangers." The testing of my absorption of this lesson came quickly two days in a row! Earlier in the day I was at a meeting and realized I had forgotten two important things, so I rushed home. Pulling onto Moonriver I noticed a  stranger  walking down the road carrying a large walking stick.  My immediate reaction was “Doesn’t this person see the  PRIVATE  road sign?”  Ooooo, the self-righteousness in that thought. Thanks to this study,  instead of rolling down my window and saying, “What are you doing on our road?” I rolled down my window and said, “Hi! I’m Boo.”  The man answered with his name, which I can’t even remember now, and said he was visiting a neighbor who lived on the road.  In my hustle bustle, I simply said, “That’s nice,” and rushed off.  By the time I ran in the house to grab ...

July 17 Again and again I keep going back to Isaiah 1:17 and this call to action, which came to me in a study last week. " Learn  to do what is good.    Seek justice.    Correct the oppressor.    Defend the rights of the fatherless.    Plead  the widow's cause." This first chapter of Isaiah references the disobedience, the turning away from God by his people, and a God directed cry from Isaiah in verse 16  to..." Wash yourselves and be clean!  Get your sins out of my sight. Give you your evil ways." Next in v. 17 comes the call to put faith into action! Learn, seek, correct, defend, and plead for others. Then in verse 18, God's gracious offer, which still rings out to us this day. "Come now, let's settle this," says the Lord.  "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow."  Our faith walk isn't instantaneous obedience. There's a lot of wavering and wobbling that go...

God sent the blue heron to cheer me. July 16 Paul's message in  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 is so true! "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." For years I said everyone should waitress and work retail to appreciate those individuals.  You would tip better and hang up the clothes you try on! After working as a receptionist in a doctor's office, as a patient representative for hospice patients and as an elementary and middle school teacher, I know those jobs have made me a more understanding person. Giving birth six times, losing ones I've loved way too soon in tragic situations, passing a kidney stone, having a stroke and shingles, having major back issues and surgery, and now being stuck in  wheel chair with a broken ankle, all ha...

July 14-15 "Get in the car!  We are going to be late again!"  That's just the tip of the iceberg of some Sunday morning conversations on the ride to church.  We scream and fight, then smooth out our Sunday best outfits and walk into church with a smile.  One of our sons still struggles to this day over the hypocrisy he saw (stills sees) in the church.  In high school the kids who cussed in the locker room, snubbed him at school,  partied and drank Saturday night and then sat there Sunday morning with their Bibles open on their laps drove him nuts and drew his attention more than the Sunday school lesson. None of us are perfect and "authentic community takes work." (From She Reads Truth) "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common."   Acts 4:32  I bet some of those in that "full number" ha...

July 13 Broke my ankle yesterday. Headed to the orthopedic now. This is what I sent my summer Bible study ladies. Jesus and I love to hang out on the screened porch here at Shiloh.  Yesterday,  I escaped out there and dove into a wonderful seasonal study by Ruth Chou Simmons.  I want to share the final lesson I did (see below) before getting up and putting on my bathing suit to go for a swim at the Waterfront Country Club.  My left side has remained weak from the stroke almost three years ago. I am usually very cautious on steps for fear of that leg giving way.  Yesterday, I was not cautious enough.  My arms were full and I did not hold the rail going out the front door. Usually, I take baby steps going down, but this particular time I was taking the steps one at a time.  My left ankle just seemed to roll over and down I went.  It began to swell immediately. I had a cold bottle of tea in my hand and put that on the ankle/foot right away...

July 12 "In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8 I just finished reading Roxanne Green 's book, As Good as She Imagined  about the death of her nine year old daughter, Christina Taylor Green in the 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona.  The faith of the Green family is what allows them to live in peace and know that their daughter is in a safe, fabulous place. The greatest gift we can give our friends and families is the knowledge of our faith! People need to feel safe!  What the world and media shouts at us is "Be alert!"  (Yes, I know the Bible tells us that too.) But while being alert, a sweet smile and a welcoming heart can go a long way and help spread the gospel. I love this quote by Shauna Niequist "The heart of hospitality is about creating space for someone to feel seen and heard and loved.  It's about declaring your table a safe zone, a place of warmth and nourishm...

We drove the boat out on the water and looked up to the sky, but we had absolutely nothing to do with what our eyes beheld! July 11 Paul speaks to us in Romans with a heart filled with gratitude for all God has given him. He's extremely thankful for his work of carrying the gospel and he recognizes this work is not about him, it's all about God. This is one of this passages that I need to chew on as a cow chews its cud...over and over again for the world teaches us just the opposite.   "I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."   Roma...

July 10 Talking about Jesus with a three year old is so much fun.  Our little fellow was asking why his 8 week old cousin kept looking at the ceiling and smiling.  I shared that he was looking at his angels.  There is a cow painting in that general direction and this cutie said, "Mama Boo, those are cows, not angels!" Then he said, "There are two Jesus's."  I inquired, "Really?"  He said, "Yes. One in you and one in me!" Amazing concept to grasp at three years old. There is plenty of Jesus to go around! He's in each one of us who invites Him in. Friends, I'm so thankful we are always dwelling in the presence of angels.  Just as Lot experience the protection of angels, we do too. Wish we were together to sit around and share angel encounters with one another! "But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door."    Genesis 19:10 "For he will order his angels to protect you wherev...

July 9 The other evening I went out to get on the pontoon and I was greeter by a six year old who said, "Welcome aboard ma'am!   It will cost you a kiss to get on the boat."  Just thrill my heart! For his whole life he's heard me ask him to pay up for special requests with kisses, now he was following suit. After a toy broke here this summer a seven year old grand said, "Just go on Amazon and order another one."  I realized these children have very little concept of cost .  (I have added to that issue by buying, buying, buying for them.) How often do we consider the cost that was paid for our sin? Is it valuable to us or do we expect it from God as if he's a gracious grandfather, who certainly wants to give good gifts to his children? Jesus paid it all for us. Our sins cost Him his life. I love the song: Lord you are more precious than silver,  Lord you are more costly than gold, Lord you are more beautiful than diamonds and not...

This precious daughter has accompanied me so many places!  Thank you. July 6 Living in a resort/retirement community there are numerous people who need someone to accompany them to doctors' appointments.  There are also many who pick up visiting minors at the airport who have been assigned airline personnel to accompany them to their gates for flights.  As a boat salesman, my husband accompanies customers on their test drives.  (Such a brave soul.)  Following my stroke, our daughter had to accompany me everywhere! Situation after situation in life leaves us vulnerable and wishing we were not alone.  For those of us who have Jesus as a Savior we know we are never alone.  We have the Jesus in our hearts, the Holy Spirit as a guide and angels watching over us!  (Forget Big Brother watching, that's a heavenly crowd posed in our presence and that remembrance alone should curtail our temptation to sin!) " Teach these new disciples to obey all ...

July 5 My husband loves a good joke or cartoon. He keeps us smiling around here.  This church sign made me chuckle. It has been a hot, hot week for us here on Smith Mt Lake, but Jesus breathes refreshment into our lives! Without Jesus the forecast is forever hot. "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. "  Matthew 7:13 " For God did not spare even the angels who sinned.  He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgement."    2 Peter 2:4

July 4 "I really think we should let the turtle go.  He will be happier in his natural habitat." "These lightning bugs aren't looking very healthy in this jar.  They are jumping all over the place." "Those fish in the bucket are swimming on top of one another. Let's put them back in the lake now." "If you capture that little bunny, I'm afraid your human scent on him will cause his mother to reject him and not feed him anymore." These are all statements related to captivity, which I have made to my grandchildren in the past week. There are equally as many statements that can be made concerning human behaviors. "That addiction is holding you captive from the abundant life God intended for you." "The anxiety and fears you are battling are not from God." " The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." John 10:10 NLT...