Boojoyful

  The Story of Esther is a show stopper! There is a correlation with Christmas in Esther chapter 9 that I have never digested before.  After Esther steps forward "for such a time as this" and the Jews are delivered check out what Uncle Mordecai did! The Festival of Purim Mordecai wrote down everything that had happened . Then he sent letters to the Jews everywhere in the provinces   and told them: Each year you must celebrate on both the fourteenth and the fifteenth of Adar,   the days when we Jews defeated our enemies. Remember this month as a time when our sorrow was turned to joy, and celebration took the place of crying. Celebrate by having parties and by giving to the poor and by sharing gifts of food with each other .   Esther 9:20-22 Isn't that a perfect checklist for how we are to celebrate.? We are to invite others into our celebration of Jesus' birth and read and remember what has been written down concerning the virgin birth. We take care of the ...

  God gives the sweetest gifts. I don't usually post on Sunday, but I was looking for another song and this blessing popped up and it's good to pass on blessings. Play it at least twice and ask God to take you deeply into who He is. 1) Consider the gifts that have been given to these musicians, vocalists, and actors. Then ask what gift am I to share today? 2) Consider the emotions on each face, whether performing musically, watching from the crowd, or portraying one of the people in the Christmas story.  Joseph's expression of love for Mary and his realization of who God is touched me deeply.  Then ask...Do I stand in amazement of how God chose to come to earth?  Have I told anyone who the Savior's birth has changed my life? Share the Gift The Song The Best Christmas Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5mdybeyLVc December 5th Franklin Heights church at the CrossPointe campus in Burnt Chimney, VA invites you to attend our 10 AM service and then enjoy hot chocolate ...

Go to https://www.faithgateway.com/because-of-bethlehem-obs-registration/ to sign up for this Max Lucado online study. Max Lucado’s studies are always warm and welcoming and Advent begins today. This free study comes with free downloads of scripture cards, gift tags and musical scores. I wanted to share this one with you on the chance you would enjoy a simple, short, at home study that starts December 3rd.  You don’t have to buy the book to benefit from the study. Warning do not listen to this video if your children are in earshot and still believe in Santa.   Also, you may want a tissue at the end. Lucado states in the video: “Id like to think that moment Mary gazed into the face of God, she realized it was all worth it. The ache in her back the ache in her heart all faded away and the questions of how and the wonderings of when didn’t linger.  The inn had no place for her son, but that’s alright because he would find a place in people’s hearts. Mary and Joseph were far...

A friend, whom I cherish, was helping me clean recently and when she turned around I laughed as I saw the angel wings on the back of her shirt. Hmm, maybe she is... The sight of the wings led me to what I thought was going to be a song about angels watching over us, but God had something totally different in mind for me. This is a song about dementia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37b7qXh-1nM On an app called PrayerMate I created a dementia category for family and caregivers of dementia patients.  I forwarded this song to them and wrote. As I typed your names in the “to” column my emotions came over me and tears dripped down my cheeks.  Then the Lord blessed me by the remembrance that each of you love the Lord and have the Holy Spirit equipping you for the earthly task of caring for and loving your mothers/wife with the love of Jesus. May He do just that today and allow you to rejoice. Father, we lift dementia patients and their families to You and thank You that y...

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.   Colossians 2:6-7 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with  praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!  For the Lord is good; his steadfast loves endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.   Psalm 100:4-5 As we nibble on our turkey, may we implant this truth into our hearts and minds this Thanksgiving Day, for the Lord is good! As you gather together, t ake time to thank the Lord for something that begins with these letters . T Testimonies  of those who have gone before us and those walking with Him now. H   The hope  of H eaven. A  Angels assigned to us and a nswered prayer. N Newness, his mercies are new every morning. K   The kindness of others. S A Savior  who obediently  sacrificed His life for our sins.

Our Minnesota granddaughter on a visit to Shiloh this summer.  Rolling out of the bed, I struggled to straighten up recently. Sleeping in a different bed, while out of town on a baby sitting gig, had gotten the best of me.  Bring on the chiropractor and the opportunity to get my spine back in alignment. When we loosen our grip on the steering wheel and realize the car is pulling to one side we are usually quick to schedule an appointment to see what has caused the alignment issue. For years my, father would visit our home and couldn't help but straighten any pictures or paintings on the walls that weren't perfectly aligned. He pointed out loose doorknobs as well! For those of you who sew, how many seams have your ripped out because you wavered off the straight and narrow? Yet, when we are out of alignment with God there seems to be very little urgency to get back on track.  We put off being right with the Lord faster than we put off doing a load of laundry. The past week ...

I've been privileged to pray with a group of women in Mississippi via email for many years.  The past few weeks we've been praying for a young high school girl, whose heart mysteriously stopped beating while just hanging out in the bedroom of a friend.  It ends up she had a rare heart disease called " Long QT Syndrome”.  The parents have had her on life support praying for a miracle, but doctors explained it was time to let her go.  Her dad wrote... "We've been waiting all day for the phone call.  The one that says they have an operating room ready for us. Trinity will be donating any organ or tissues that are usable to save as many lives as she can. This was very important to her. Her Mia... someone that meant that world to her... passed while waiting for a kidney transplant.   So we wait for the phone call.  Then we go for her "Honor walk".  They will line the hospital hallways leading to the OR with nurses and her family to honor the sacrifice ...

  Moonriver Lane For this world is not our home, we are looking forward to our ever lasting home in heaven.   Hebrews 13:14  The private wooded road to our home is a half a mile long drive down from the top of a mountain.   Deer, wild turkeys, two fat groundhogs, bunnies, turtles, red headed woodpeckers and a wise old owl regularly dart about. It is an incredibly peaceful feeling on Moonriver Lane. This time of year the colors spew out an enchantment which causes you to stop in amazement at all God has put together. Can you imagine what it will be like when we see heaven for the first time. For an instance we may be tempted to grab for our phones to take a picture, but then when we see Jesus face to face we will yearn for the things of earth no more, for we will be home. Lately, I've found myself rejoicing for the those brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone on before me and are no longer enduring the trappings and trials of earth.   Stop right now an...

This maple is waving to you from Shiloh! It makes me want to dance. Here's another post that got left behind in 2020 during my time off from Boojoyful. A lot of people hate Christians. We really shouldn't be surprised, there is persecution and hatred of Christ's followers all around the world and this has been occurring ever since the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Scripture clearly states this reality. " Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. "  1 John 3:13 Growing up in a nation where Christianity has been embraced and admired, causes me to be shocked at times and struggle to accept the turn of the tide.  Several years ago, in a presidential election year, we were sitting in a small dining room at a country club with three other Bible believing couples. You know, the kind that bow their heads and say a blessing in a public restaurant.  In that same room a large table was set for twelve.  We were well into our meal when the other group, ...

" Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of Christ Jesus for you. "  1 Thessalonians 5:18 " The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."   Proverbs 16:9 "...when we are tempted to serve the idols of control and self-assurance, let us remember them for what they are-false and deceiving masters. Let's turn instead to our sovereign and faithful God, who does all that He pleases to bring Himself glory while He demonstrates His steadfast love.  When we place our need for control within His hands, we become reflections of His glory and steadfast love.  And that, dear friends, pleases Him very much." (I think this may have been from Ruth Chou Simmons_ As I dove back into this ministry a few days ago,  I found the beginning of this old post that had been scheduled to go out June 11, 2020.  While God was certainly in control at that time, my mind was not as I was suffering from PTSD following the pit bu...

It is good to praise the Lord...proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. Psalm 92:1-2 My husband's cousin, who was a life long friend of mine, died this fall. She had battled debilitating health issues for years and lived alone due to a divorce, but she was the kindest, most encouraging person you would ever meet. The visits we had with her the last week of her life were filled with nothing but gratitude for others and how God has made a way to heaven for those who believe in his Son. My husband had the privilege of performing her memorial service here at Shiloh.  The response from her friends and family to travel here was incredible.  Seventy-five people came!  Who couldn't come were any of the nine caterers the family contacted.  Gratitude exuded from the family and myself as several of my friends stepped up to help me caterer this event.   God provided a gorgeous day and this woman's grandchildren were even able to swim in the...

  November 16, 2021 These six characters came for our Hallelujah weekend. It is our alternative to Halloween and soooo much fun! We have adults stationed at six doors around the house with praise music playing on their phones and goodies in baskets.  Their Papa starts off the evening with a devotional and this year we had a very talented female quartet make a surprise appearance.   Maybe I can learn how to do video downloads and post their song. The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious,  slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.   Exodus 34:6 A question was posed to me as to whether I have experienced God's forgiveness after deliberately choosing to disobey His Word.  Ugh. I have and the reality makes me feel worse than how these grands feel when I have caught them with their hand in the candy jar without permission. We are created in the image of God, so lets break down some of these character traits and ask Him to stir our h...

 Hallelujah, I think I may have figured out the old way to operate this site.  I laughed at the verse in my devotional book this morning. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 3:13-14 It's a new day filled with new opportunities to see God at work!  It may be the day He calls us home or calls us to a work that only He can equip us to fulfill. Whatever the day brings God is with us. Maybe today He will call us, through the power of his Holy Spirit, to be more patient, more generous, more forgiving, more compassionate or more understanding. May we be better listeners, who put down our phones and look into the eyes of others with genuine interest as a person who loves others.  May we praise God for His forgiveness and be known as people who listen well and argue little. God's mercies are new every morning so let's ...

The summer of 2021 brought about a precious decision in the lives of these three grandchildren. They wanted their Papa to baptize them here at Shiloh. What a privilege it was for him to do this. Oh, how they love Jesus! When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained...O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:3-9 I can't believe God has called me to this today. I do not even remember how to operate this site, but I will write what He has given me, hit publish and see what happens. While there is no desire to get back to this and learn how to manage this site, the desire to be found obedient is greater. As I read from Psalm 8 today the word consider stuck in my mind. Do I consider God everyday? As I took time to consider the beautiful changing colors of fall in these beloved mountains of Virginia, I thought of change. Some people hate change, but God knows change is needed. Just as Go...