Boojoyful

This little guy came  up with a very efficient way to carry a load of water balloons! What is the load you are carrying right now? Many of my loads are cuddly and under 55 pounds. While lifting these grands can do a number on my rotator cuff and back, holding a snuggly toddler or infant is totally worth the pain.  It's the emotional loads that can really wear us down.  If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.   Matthew 11:28 Speak, Soak, Sing, Surround. I read a devotional on 4 steps to help you cast your burdens on the Lord.   1) Speak it.  We have to communicate with God and tell him our struggles. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and ...

As our 4 year old grandson was explaining the world of "Paw Patrol" to me, I said, "That is amazing."  He then said, "Are you really impressed with me?"  LOL  I relied, "Yes, I am." Mostly because he knew to ask if I was impressed. Later, I was driving him to a swimming lesson and he asked if I knew where he lived in Charlottesville. I said, "Yes, I do. I was actually at your house the day your family moved in and you were still in your mama's tummy."  He thought that was funny and we talked a lot about how God created all kinds of mama's to grow babies in their tummies.  Dog, cats, cows, horses, and on along the mammal line.  Then I really blew him away when I told him his mama had been my my tummy. His next question was "How did she grow?" We discussed that process and the fact that he would grow to be an adult. Then he asked, "When will I have a baby in my tummy?"  "Never." I replied.  The big ...

In the summer, Shiloh is filled with the pitter patter of little feet and quite often those little feet wander into our bedroom very early in the morning.  One ten year old grandson came through just as my eyes were opening and the dream I was dreaming was fresh on my mind.  I shared with him that several of us where in a totally glass room where we could see out into a lush forest and watch amazing animals like white tigers, leopards, elephants, an enormous black bear and a huge hairy wild bore.  Right there in the scene was a young boy by a log. My maternal instincts made me fear for him, but he didn't appear to be alarmed at all or in any danger. Normally, I can figure out what triggered my dream...something I've read or watched.  This one baffled me. After writing the post about my conversations with a four year old, I was searching for the verse "and a little child shall lead them."  I've always thought that verse related ...

  The Song "The Lion and the Lamb" by Leeland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ujBoud26k

Our granddaughter saddled up on Jericho at Spring Valley Farms for her first private riding lesson.     Watching her made me think of Steven Curtis Chapman's song "The Great Adventure"... "Saddle up your horses, we've got a trail to blaze into the glorious unknown."      Everyday is an unknown adventure for us no matter how well prepared we think we are. We are not in control of the world in which we live.  The weather, the traffic, and health issues alone can cause plans to be set in a different motion. We have a most trust worthy Guide to see us through everyday. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.  Romans 10:9 You will also be safe, loved, and directed toward a life giving path, whether that is life on this earth or eternal life. Amen?  Yup, Amen! Accidentally, I came across "Our Daily Bread Devotional Films."   Here is an example of these beautifully videoed moments with God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tExCE5-ioas T...

  Such laughter at the site of this 7 year old grandson who got his bottom stuck in a bucket on our dock! Barefoot is my favorite way to be.  I'd been vacuuming the house and had stumped my toe on a set of stairs.  After completing my cleaning task I realized my foot was aching.  I sat down to rub it and found a glass bead stuck to the bottom of my foot! What are you stuck in or on?  Maybe it is something/someone stuck on you right now that is robbing your joy and freedom in Christ.  Are you relying on a friend to get your out of a bucket, a rut, or peel something away that is causing pain?  Call on Jesus. He is our friend and the perfecter of our faith. That is the best way out of sticky situations holding us captive. Isaiah 43:18b-19 Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams ...

                                                                                     Boating and Floating   I know it's not Saturday, but I can't wait to share this song with you.  I'm adding this to my "play it at my praise party after I'm in heaven" list. Sit back and soak this in! The Song "No One Ever Cared For Me Life Jesus" Stephanie Gretzinger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wapXZkU-jFM

  Last night the Princess Warriors women's summer study group gathered for a "rest with God" led by our daughter on her harp. The weather was absolutely perfect for this lakeside respite.  Our purpose was to "be still" and draw into the presence of the Lord as he poured out his love over us.  The birds were singing out with the harp music in a way that you couldn't help but smile.  At one point I felt for certain our yard's deer, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, squirrels and salamanders would appear in the yard behind the harp. I know the worms wanted to stick their heads out of the dirt and dance. There was a precious 96 year old friend in attendance.  Multiple times while we were listening to the harp and the Lord she would raise an arm in the air or sing out...sometimes in words, sometimes in groans. Afterwards she explained to us it was so wonderful how the Spirit was welling up to overflowing in her and she felt she was "going to bust." W...

 Lovely Father's day afternoon with two of our children and 4 of the grands. We are heading into the second half of the ABC prayer topics to pray for our children and grandchildren. Our prayers and consistent glimpses of our faith are the best gifts we can give our families. Open - Open the door of their lives to Jesus and allow Him to have control of every area. Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together.  Revelation 3:20  A friend was visiting and asked, "What is that beeping noise I keep hearing?"  I explained that 1 beep alerts me to a door being opened in the house. It is a great security device for when the grandchildren are here and going in and out.  Three beeps means someone is coming or going across a sensor in our driveway.  Living on five acres, it helps alert me when someone is approaching and gives me time to see who is at t...

  Our oldest granddaughter is 11 and a brave little surfer girl! Enjoy this weekend reflecting on not only your earthly father but your heavenly father as well. I meant to post this graduation message in May, but it slipped away. The Video Denzel Washington's Life Advice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FB9i7P9Zs4

Three generations of women who walk gracefully through life together.   Gathering with some women from church we were sharing how difficult the aging and dying processes can be, even for those who love the Lord deeply.  One woman shared she was shocked that her mother, who is of HUGE faith, has struggled with pain that comes with aging. Another friend shared with me how difficult it was to see her husband's struggle in the last days of a horrendous cancer death.  One of the women at the table said, "Aging and dying are great and mighty battles."  So profound.  We all long to do it gracefully, but there's no guarantee, no matter how much we love Jesus the course our entrance into eternity or battle with disease will take. God may be at work in the lives of those around us and have purpose in this process that we do not understand. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a tim...

Early morning screened porch snuggles at Shiloh Cousin Camp. Father, may my grandchildren love the Lord their God with all their heart and love their neighbors as themselves. May they be found faithful to show mercy to all people and through the power of the Holy Spirit with boldness believe and live out the truth that nothing can separate them from the love of God. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen   Love -L ove the Lord God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.   Matthew 5:7 In a recent Bible study, a challenge question was posed related to the "Rules for Christian Living" in Romans 12:9-13 "Who am I living out life honoring more than myself?"  Whew. I answered, "Not nearly enough people."  My neighbors have a boat load of needs right now, but my immediate needs for "my house" are taking precedence.  I need to make time for my neighbors.  If I ask the Lord to make a way, I know He will.  I need to ...

  It's rare these days to be in a conversation with someone that doesn't gravitate to the utter astonishment of the downward slide of our world. Despair and a feeling of defeat can easily slip into our mental outlook, but then we remember who is on our side.  The Lord of Angel Armies! Morgan Snyder author of  Becoming a King , wrote a devotional on Faithgateway recently in which he stated: "In the novel  Peace Like a River , Jeremiah Land, the father figure in the story, put it this way: 'We and the world, my children, will always be at war. Retreat is impossible. Arm yourselves.'   Yet in this powerful story, the weapons Jeremiah uses are not physical fire-arms but the even more fundamental weapons of courage, wisdom, strength, endurance, self-control, prayer, faith, love, and sacrifice. He wages war heroically against death, cruelty, and violence, but in the power of One far greater than himself.   While many Bible translations render the Hebrew name for ...

I keep forgetting to get a warm towel photo. This is a little cluster of grands beading together.   Spring was a bit slow to warm up, but we are getting a hot blast now..  I found myself still needing a Chai Latte on some of those 60 degree damp May mornings. If our life here at Shiloh was a reality show I would have great compassion on the cinematographer trying to adjust to our sleeping patterns. They are sporadic to say the least.  Middle of the night bathroom runs cause brains to be switched on and often not allow our bodies to go back to sleep.  Awakening at 3:17AM I knew my husband had probably been up for at least an hour, so I beckoned him to come back to bed. Snuggling up next to me he said, "You are as warm as a baby just out of bed."  When our baby grands are here we race to get them in the morning or from a nap, because they are so warm and nuzzle right into your neck.  It feels so good! Towels right out of the dryer are another cozy comfort. Ou...

Little ears are listening when we are totally unaware. Sitting out under our magnolia tree I was sharing a devotional by Cally Logan called "6 Essential Characteristics of a Godly Woman".  I know you want to know... "Courage and Kindness, Hard Worker, Loyalty, Joy, Wisdom and Faith". It was an excellent article.  Email me at boojoyful@gmail.com if you would like me to send it to you in it's entirety. At one point in my sharing, with quite a loud volume a voice, which appeared to be behind me said, "I didn't understand what you were saying?"  I looked behind me and there was no one, just the lake.  Looking at the youngest member of our gathering, a brand new college grad I inquired, "Who was that?"  I knew I had not brought my phone outside with me.  She grinned and said, "It's your watch."  I replied, "But I don't have Siri."  Oh, you have her, you just don't know you have her and sh...

A local horse farm barn sign. How the system works...what we pour in is what pours back out of us. We must equip ourselves with the knowledge of God's Word to increase our accuracy of discernment concerning what He is calling us to do. Here is how the system worked for me one day last week.  I believe with all my heart God set the stage for a teachable moment. In the midst of changing over to Medicare there had been a billing dispute and I needed to take a form and a letter to the Social Security office in a city 45 minutes away.  Several of our grandchildren are staying with us, so I needed to go early on the morning my husband was leading Bible study at home and would be on property should any problems arise. Online the site said the office opened at 8AM.  Arriving at 8:15 the building was locked and an additional sign was up saying the times of operation were 9-4.  I decided to run an errand and come back. Arriving back at 8:50 there were two people sitting on ben...

Honeycomb candy Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, making people happy and healthy.   Proverbs 16:14 Kind words are like honey— they cheer you up and make you feel strong.    Proverbs 16:14 We often save our foul moods and unkind words for our family when we are worn out or wounded.  We see them as a safe spot to unload, but be that as it may, words wound.  Our patience is known to run weary with those we do life with the longest, be it at work or at home.  This is especially true amongst siblings/relatives.  We figure they are stuck with us and will eventually forgive our shortcomings, but in the midst of the motion we can bring great damage to those relationships and emotional harm to those we love. In 1992 we watched an ice skating movie called "The Cutting Edge" with our children.  In the movie when the hockey player turned figure/pair skater messes up on a stop the girl skater snidely says "toe pick" referencing the unique part ...

Visiting a petting zoo with one of our grandchildren, I was introduced to my first  zonkey.   A cross between a zebra and a donkey.  Listening to a quick snippet on the Queen of England's birthday celebration on TV I leaned that a Dorgi, dog breed, is a a cross between a Dachshund and a Welsh Corgi. Standing in line with our grandson at a Dollar Store buying "Off" bug spray, two young gentlemen in front of us with carts loaded with soft drinks told us to please go ahead of them.  As I pulled out my credit card to insert in the box to pay one of the fellows said, "Ma'am, all you have to do is tap your card right there on credit card box because you have this wireless mark .  When you see that symbol, there is no need to insert your card."  I smiled and replied, "I love to learn something new everyday. Thank you so much." As long as I live I hope I continue to learn at least one new thing everyday. There is certainly plenty out there to learn, but I ...

Everyday that I venture out of the gates of Shiloh I drive past this sign. It's actually a realtor's sign that I have cropped to appear like it has a cross on the right, because when I look at those words I remember how Jesus died on the cross for my sins so that I might have peace of mind. The God who can raise Jesus from the dead can defeat any problem weighing upon us, but we must turn to him to experience the "luxury of peace of mind". Jesus then said, “I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die.  And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die."    John 11:25-26 The Song "Same Power" by Jeremy Camp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdwDmoQ7-V4  

  Summers on the Lake bring joy. Joy -  Believe in Jesus and experience inexpressible joy. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him  and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  1 Peter 1:8 In trying to help some of our grands navigate disappointments in life, I try to explain that the love of God through the gift of Jesus is enough knowledge to bring us joy everyday.  We read this anonymous quote Saturday and tried to absorb it's reality... "When you are angry for a minute, you rob yourself of 60 seconds of joy and happiness."   Don't let Satan steal the joy that Jesus provides. Know - Take time to be still and truly know God.  He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth. ”   Psalm 46:10 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.   John 8:32 Tell someone five things ...