Boojoyful

My sister and daughter here on a recent visit. Amazing women! Sunday night I was nestled on the couch with one of our sons and my husband to watch the Steelers game.  My stomach was in knots as this was our QB's first game after the concussion he received three weeks ago.  The first pass he threw was an interception. UGH.  The majority of the first half was disappointing for him.  I simply muttered out loud, "Lord, this is not good."  God replied, "Where is your faith, woman ?" Woman? He's never called me woman. What was that all about? The second half was much better and the Steelers scored 27 straight points to win the game. But the woman  comment stayed with me.  I remembered a couple times Jesus addressed his mother Mary, as "woman."  So a went searching for the reason. Here's an audio response. https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/media/e/1172/f/6/t/why-did-jesus-call-mary--woman--instead-of-mother- Everything I read e...

We were driving home early one foggy morning from PA. We'd been jolted and shaken by the first time experience of hitting a deer.  Dawn had broken and my head was looking down, as I worked on a Bible study lesson. My husband chimed, "Look up! Get your camera." The illusion was incredible.  It was as if we were going to drive off a road that went into the abyss. As we went further down the mountain you could see the highway curves to the left and what we were seeing was actually a run away truck ramp. The thick fog covered whatever was beyond. In our minds, we don't possess the ability to see what lies ahead for us in eternity, but I know it is going to be an amazing scene! "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass."   Revelation 21:21

This year I have witnessed more friends than ever have to say farewell to people they love. I began making these heart bookmarks to give them that have one single word written on them.   Remember Remember words that were spoken, remember the memories you shared, remember the things you laughed and cried over with this person.  Then thank God for giving them to you for a season. "I thank my God  when I remember you in my prayers."   Philemon 1:4 We study God's Word to remember who He is, what He has done, and pass on the Good News of what He promises to do. "Remember the wondrous works that he has done,  his miracles and the judgements he uttered."   1 Chronicles 16:12 "Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations." 1 Chronicles 16:15

The whole room of adults chuckled as these three grands came up from the basement donning costume after costume from a stash of dress up clothes that are 30 years old!  Transforming ourselves through costumes and clothing seems to bring delight. God works together for our good by instructing us to clothe ourselves with these exquisite qualities. Heeding His instruction and doing so will bring delight to God, us and others! "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,  kindness,  humility,  gentleness and  patience." Colossians 3:12

Our church hosts a fabulous Fall Festival every October. It was a treat to have our two year old grandson from Florida here this year.  One of the events was a HUGE inflatable obstacle course.   His father said, "No, way he will be able to do that."  But off this little one went and did it over and over again! What are the obstacles before you that seem to be too great? Are they larger than the Red Sea, stronger than a lion in a den, burning more powerfully than a fiery furnace, or darker than the belly of a great fish? Can we say, "My God is greater than any obstacle in my way!"  He is my Deliverer. "They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD."       Jeremiah 1:19 Can we say, "My strength is in the Lord." He is the Overcomer. "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."  Romans 8:37 Can we say, "My God...

Love these happy bakers helping their mama! "You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand." Galatians 6:2 In 1980 my husband and a very eight months pregnant me , moved into a big old home, which was built in 1914.  This home had been in the same family all those years and they actually approached us about moving there.  When the heating bill was more than the mortgage we got a glimpse of why no one else had wanted to live there!  Ends up, it was such a God thing.  God knew we'd have six children in eight years and need the space. He knew my husband would teach a young couples' Sunday school class with forty couples who needed a place to gather and he knew we would become involved in a ministry called Young Life that needed a place for thirty-five kids on Monday nights.  The attic of this house was a perfect match. One of the biggest chores for this property came in the fall. It sat on a two acre hill covered in oak trees! ...

"Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us!"   Romans 12:1 Standing in the Steelers locker room a few weeks ago, my husband said, "I'd really like to take a picture."  "Absolutely NOT!" was my reply. "There are cameras watching everything we do." It's crazy isn't it.  Now days, it's difficult to go anywhere and not be seen.  There are street cams, home security cameras, school and bus cameras, even our church is protected with video surveillance inside and out. This summer I wrote about being the first on the scene of a car accident.  While the young men  involved began to tell their stories, the truth unfolded easily because the car behind them had a camera on it's dash!!!  I tried to kiss my husband on a hotel elevator last month and he said, "Watch out!  I bet there are cameras on here."  I kissed him anyway. Add to that everyone carrying a cell phone and we are constantly being watched. God has ...

Yesterday, I referenced how one verse about "leaning on God" led me to research verses on standing apart, which led me to read all of 1 John. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for  he who is in you is greater than  he who is in the world.   They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and  the world listens to them. 1 John 4:4-5  What moves us to pass along what God is teaching us?  Listen to why John wrote his letter? 1 John 1:4   "We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. " My license plate is Im4joy.  Walking out of a post office one day a man came up to me and said, "Is your name Joy?"  I gave him a puzzled look. He said, "I was noticing your license plate."  I laughed and replied, "No, my name is Boo. I just like to be joyful!"  Living for and loving Jesus, completes our joy. 1 John 2:1 " My little children, I am writing these things to you so...

God is so creative in how He draws us to himself to teach us, encourage us, correct us, and love on us.  The verse above came through on an email months ago and I pasted it to my computer screen.  Meditating on this verse, related to leaning on God, led me to study how we are called to be set apart, which led me into an hour study that culminated with reading  1 John! More on that tomorrow. Go with God!  He will take you to some wonderful places.  The more we lean on God and get close to Him through prayer, the more we separate ourselves from the world.   We were not created to stand alone, although we were created to stand apart. Listen to the words passed on to us from both Old and New Testament authors. " Out of all the nations on this earth, the  Lord  your God chose you to be his own. You belong to the  Lord , so don’t behave like those who worship other gods. " Deuteronomy 14:2 "Don’t be like the people of thi...

Not much slows these three down! " Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!                                                                                                                                           Romans 12:1-2 Life wa...

Whether the quarterback or the concession stand operator, we are all precious in God's sight. Recently, as we drove through rural West Virginia, we saw some disheveled dwelling places.  With pondering in my voice, I asked my husband, "Do you ever wonder about all the varied conditions people are born into? We could have been born anywhere and to anyone in the world." Neither Isaac nor Ishmael had control of the circumstances of their birth.  Ishmael came from a lack of faith plan that Abraham and Sarah devised.  Isaac was totally God's plan. I think I read this quote on a She Reads Truth site: "Sarah represents the covenant of faith and grace, but Hagar represents the covenant of failed human effort." God is so gracious to us, despite our human efforts. While the conditions we are born into vary greatly there is even playing field.  Each of our identities  is fixed in Christ. The forgiveness of sin is available to us all. The same eternal inherit...

Father-daughter twinning! It was a double whammy day.  The Lord prompted me to pray for a friend and each time as I quieted  myself with the Word of God in front of me Colossians 1:9-12 was opened up in different formats. These are "a great way to start your day" verses to pray for one another. "Pray we will be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him,  bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May God strengthen us with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."

Fabulous photo a friend took from her patio overlooking Roanoke, VA The colors haven't changed much this year, but fall is trying to sneak in, although it was 79 degrees yesterday. Change is inevitable, whether it be the seasons, our age or hair color. It's going to happen. The Bible is clear, we will be changed! "It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised.  We will all be changed, so that we will never die again."  1 Corinthians 15:52 Where we live, where we work, where we go to church, the clothes we change into and what we eat are changes we have the capacity to effect.  What we read and what we listen to influence the way we think.  Romans 12:2 reminds us that God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit can absolutely change the way we think for good. "Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think.  Then you will know how to do ...

Posting some videos I had taken, I heard myself laughing and thought, "That is an annoying laugh." I shared with our daughter that I was going to stop laughing loudly. She said, "Oh, no!  I love your laugh. That's my favorite thing to do... laugh with you."  Then she asked her sons to imitate my laugh. We were laughing hysterically and there was no way I could change my laugh, it just came out way. What else just comes out of us. What we put in our hearts comes out! " Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."   Proverbs 4:23

Sunset on Smith Mt Lake Sitting on the couch with our QB the morning after the "hit" I said, "I want to share some things from my testimony I may have never told you." First of all, he was blown away I was sixtee n before I accepted Christ.  As the tale continued to be told, the end went something like this...I would not tell you these things if they were not true.  Again and again, God has shown himself to be so faithful, so loving, so true.  I promise you He's the real deal. Forever and ever He is our.... Leader Equiper     Positioner                                             The One who shows the way!                                       ...

Say what?    Rocks, Dirty Birds and Briars  That's my current read by Franklin Graham and Donna Lee Toney.  They had me captivated at the Foreward where they wrote... "As Jesus walked the sandy shores of the fishing village with His disciples, it was common for large crowds to gather and follow after Him to hear His words.  Some were curious. Some were skeptical. Some were burdened. Some were joyous. The words of Jesus challenged inquiring minds. His words convicted critical spirits. His words comforted weary hearts. His words captivated those who loved Him. This is the Son of Man as the Preacher, Teacher, and Friend. This is Jesus sowing the seed of truth into stony hearts and thirsty souls." Oh, dear friends, haven't we all been challenged, convicted, comforted and captivated  by Jesus' words. That's why, according to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time. "Every word of God is flawless. "  Proverbs ...

While Sunday and Monday felt like wandering in a dry and weary land waiting and wondering  with our QB   for medical outcomes, we've made it to   Wednesday.  The wondering is still facing us, but now we see more clearly the wonder and sovereignty  of who God is.  The day after the hit I was still deep in mother hen mode. Still shell shocked and a bit nervous caring for someone else's child at such a critical time.  (I find as a grandmother, I walk more gingerly concerning decisions than I did as a mother who just prayed and went with her gut.) Being bold, I said to him, "Before I make you breakfast I want us to have a little Jesus time, because I'm blown away by what He has given me in my quiet time this morning."  He chuckled and said, "It's going to be from Jesus Calling  isn't it?"  Guess I send him that a lot. Now, my mama raised me to always take a hostess gift when you go to stay with someone. What to b...