Boojoyful

Mr. Heron proudly guarding Shiloh! I can read one verse in God's Word and be sent off on a major dig. That's what happened with  1 Coritnhians 1:8. "And until the day Christ does return, he will keep you completely innocent." Hmm. Then may I turn off  my repentance mode in my life settings? When we sin we can tend to want to check and see if there are any cameras that caught us in the act. Maybe we got away with that one.  Nope!  God is the all seeing god.   When we  let the devil win and   sin we often feel unworthy of God's forgiveness and want to put a big fig leaf over us and hide. In actuality, it is often pride that is spiritually blinding us.  God calls us to humble ourselves. But God being all knowing, God and the  ultimate Planner made a way back.... " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness ."  1 John 1:9 Recogniti...

Some extended family on the "Go" in Jamaica! Sunday morning I was up before 6AM ready for the Lord's day.  After my quiet time I embarked on some church work on the computer.  At 8:50 God simply said, "Get off the computer and go to church."  I needed to be there for a time of prayer by 9:25. Instead what did I do...I googled people God told to "Go!" and even took this trivia quiz. And thus, I totally missed the prayer time.  Are you kidding me? Back to yesterday's entry on distractions. I was snagged. https://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz3826872bced90.html Jonah struggled with the "Go" instructions as well and remember where it landed him. “ Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” Jonah 1:2 Forgive me Lord for being such a slow learner.  For what I know of You, there was much more than prayer that I missed.  There was probably somewher...

We have a new little distraction coming in September. Grandbaby #12. We don't know yet if it's a boy or a girl, but we do know he/she will watch Carolina sports with dad and Kentucky with mom. We received this onsie in the mail! "Lent is an invitation to put down everything we have picked up in order to take hold of the only One who can truly satisfy our heart's deepest longings. It is a call to turn back, and experience a season of refreshing for our souls ( "So turn to God!  Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven." Acts 3:19). Come with open hands, and freely receive."  Amanda Bible (She Reads Truth) Several weeks ago our church was called to 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer.  We are fasting one day a week, seeking God and pray without ceasing. The day of fasting is a time of focusing on the Lord by intentionally laying distractions aside. That takes discipline and prayer.  On the particular day I wrote this the door bell rang twice, a fav...

Such spectacles! The middle of the night wake up calls are crazy these days.  When it happens I rollover against my husband and peer at the clock on his side of the bed.  Time and time again it says, 3:36 AM. This particular night I decided to search the scriptures and see if this was some sort of message. I checked Genesis, Psalms and Proverbs, but there was no 3:36, so I headed to the New Testament. Not Matthew, Mark, Luke, but there it was! The bottom line!  Love these messages in the middle of the night!  (Especially if the next day affords me a little time for catch up sleep.) “ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;   whoever does not obey the Son  shall not   see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”  John 3:36

How amazing is the light shining on our baptismal pool. This woman's testimony is beautiful! My husband and I've had a similar conversation to the question posed below, but our's is related to him always praying for a good night's sleep. I seldom sleep all night, so I've learned to pray that if I awaken God will use it for good? Will He take that middle of the night time and make the most of it by speaking to me, teaching me, and directing me if there is someone in need of prayer?  I guess I'm asking Him to have purpose in the disturbance. There are many people struggling with physical suffering and I always pray for their healing, comfort and relief.  The last sentence in this Bible Study Fellowship challenge is a new prayer for me. Got to nibble on it some more.  “God used Paul’s suffering to bring spiritual life to those without hope. Will you ask God to help you have His perspective on your suffering? Let us not pray for easier lives, ...

This has been a huge year for a lot of our grands related to conquerer their fears of snow skiing! Wednesday was a day in ministry that took an unexpected turn.  My husband was hosting a weekly men's morning Bible study in our home and I was on the treadmill. The night before I suggested he visit a church member in a nursing home about an hour south of us. While on the treadmill, the Lord had me text another member whose sister was in the hospital dying of a brain tumor an hour to our north.  This gentleman texted that he was on his way to tell his parents that his sister had died.   Heading north to be with the family of the deceased, another text came across my phone that the man in the nursing home had been found unresponsive and had been taken to a hospital.  I knew this family needed us, so we rerouted our day. While praying for these families Romans 8:31-32, 37-39 came to mind. "31  What then shall we say to these things?  If God ...

Gave  this sign to one of our grandsons and it sits on his desk. "Prayer mate" is a handy app that allows you to enter categories for prayer and then specifics requests under each category.  Each day one of our children and two or more of our grandchildren pop up for prayer. Recently, I asked one daughter in law what I could be specifically praying for her children. Her sincere reply was for their children to follow their three family goals.  Three very Biblical goals. 1) Be kind to one another 2) Obey right away 3) Have a cheerful heart.     "Be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ."                                                                                          ...

Doing Bible study Breaking Bread together There are days I feel discouraged about revival ever coming back to America.  Days I feel like "the church" is asleep. The other day I decided to look at the cup half full and I stopped and rejoiced over all the vibrant churches in America. There is a definite remnant! Each of our seven children have been blessed to attend one, if not more, stand up and praise the Lord, you are going to hear the gospel today, churches in the various locations in which they have lived. No matter where we live in the USA, if we look we can find a Bible believing, gospel preaching, learn lots about Jesus church to plug into. God must intend for this to be a get off your duff and get fired up for Jesus year for me, because he has me studying Acts in Bible Study Fellowship and from our church pulpit for the next several months. If you plug in the phrase "the church" into Biblegateway and scroll down to what "the church...

My mother had a beautiful diamond tennis bracelet, which she left to me.  Her wrists were larger than mine, so I had to have it cut down.  Three little diamonds were left. Instead of tossing them aside I asked my jeweler to make them into a pendant. It is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. I call it my remnant. .."A small remaining quantity of something."  Each time I put it on I'm reminded of all the times in history a remnant of God's faithful people have made an impact for the kingdom. Oh, me of little faith.  I've been circling a prayer for 100 people to rise up and be part of a Monday night time of prayer at our church 1-2 times a month.  The first night I prayed for this there were 10 people who came.  Enthusiastically, I looked forward to the next meeting and prayed each person would bring another person and there would be 20 of us.  Instead, only 2 people showed up. I knew the prayer I was praying was God honoring, so why the apathy...

UGH! It's flu season.  It's also "medical mystery" season, as so many people long to know what is causing the destruction of their health. My prayer list is laden with people who have seen doctor after doctor, had test after test, scan after scan and still wait for answers and a plan that will restore their health. Their are others who long to have their mental health restored. Anxiety has robbed their ability to function in some of the simplest of situations. Who is God calling you to put your hand upon and say with the power of the Holy Spirit, God promises to restore your health to you and heal you of your wounds . It may happen in heaven, but Jesus promises it will happen. "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." ~ J...

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16 Ever since the stroke I've lost my confidence in several things.  Driving and following directions to new places (which is sequential and a sequencing is a struggle for me) is one of the biggies.  I chuckle, my husband gets in the car and turns up the tunes!  I get in and quickly turn off the radio cutting out the distraction. What that does though is afford me some marvelous listen to the Lord time.  Alone car time makes the top ten "I can hear Jesus" places in my life. It is right up there with shower time, screened porch time, dock time, kayaking, pontoon, long walks, and flat on my face time. God gave me the sweetest acrostic for LOVE while in the car this week... L-lavish "bestowing something in generous and extravagant quantities."     God has lavishes his love upon us that while we were yet...

My first "Galentines" luncheon. Valentines with girlfriends. "We make a lot of plans, but the Lord will do what he has decided. "  Proverbs 19:21 So, we must stop, drop and pray before doing. A church member texted recently that she thinks my husband and I define "busy." Busy is defined by my computer dictionary as-"having a great deal to do." Reading the first part of that text caused me to sigh. When this pastor's gig began the woman texting and I committed to meet once a month for breakfast or lunch and pray together, but that quickly got laid aside and prayer happens by text now.  Her text went on to say, "But it (the busyness) is all for a great purpose. So you are "actively purposeful." Purpose -"The reason for which something is done, created, or for which something exists." So, I guess if the reason you have "a great deal to do" is from the Lord, it's okay to be "active...

A precious mother from our church posted this on Facebook recently. I asked her if I could please post it here on Boojoyful. She wrote: "There are many nights when I'm just ready for the boys to go to bed. I'm ready for "me" time. Ready to watch my shows and unwind.  When one son goes to bed, I always lay in bed with him and snuggle for a little while before he falls asleep. It's kinda become our thing. Our time together. We talk, laugh, snuggle, and just enjoy each other without any other distractions.  Tonight, I laid with him for a few minutes and went to get up so I could have my "me" time.  Son: Mommy don't go. Me: Buddy I already snuggled with you. Son: Mommy it's not enough. That stopped me in my tracts. I immediately climbed back in bed with him and soaked up every moment. Why am I always in such a hurry to leave? To watch shows that won't matter a day, week, or year from now? To work on reports that can...

My heart has been so heavy lately for all that I see our youths up against. When I offered to pray for my Facebook friends on my birthday, many of the requests were from distraught parents, aching for the hearts of their children. This article, by a woman who has a ministry to women in the sex industry, led me to the Center for Parents/Youth Understanding site. Their mission statement is "Helping parents, youth workers, educators, pastors and others understand and reach today's youth culture."  May we take seriously the power of prayer and commit to pray for our youths daily and equally as importantly may we take time to be present in their lives, to set our phones aside and sit down and engage them in conversation. We can make a difference. If you are interesting in being a part of making a difference in the SML Lake, Franklin County, Roanoke area please contact me. It will begin with prayer. Learning my lines . . . . . . discovering what it means to follow Jes...

This one is ready to rock out a new tune on my husband's childhood electric guitar! "Sing a new song. Shout! Play beautiful music." Psalm 33:3 "Six times the psalmist tells us to sing a new song. Evidently God gets tired of old songs.  He doesn't want you to worship Him with just your memory; He wants you to worship Him with your imagination as well.  Love isn't repetitive; love is creative.  As love grows, you need new lyrics and new melodies.  You need a new song to express new dimensions of love.  If you express your love to your wife in the same way over and over again, she may stop believing you at some point Why?  Because it's a mindless expression of an old feeling."   Mark Batterson This song, which is new to me, topped the contemporary Christian and Gospel charts last week.  It's by a group called "We the Kingdom."  The song is "Holy Water" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KLQ2AXQmtA Sing along! G...

This mama may be sending our grandson on a mission! Our church in embarking on a long study of the book of Acts. The theme of this series is being SENT people.  The first sermon addressed how many of the churches in America are asleep.  For there to be revival in our churches and our nation we need to live like a people who believe the gospel and recognize God calls all of us to be sent people. He may be sending some of us across the oceans to remote people groups who have not ever heard the gospel. He may be sending us right down the street to the neighbor we've never invited to church or talked to about what Jesus is doing in our lives.  He maybe be sending you across the classroom or to the next office cubical, but He has called all of us to GO and tell. Why is that scary?  Why is the thought of human rejection more intimidating, than disobedience to God? God has just called me to something rather uncomfortable. I was to start Wednesday, but I found e...