Boojoyful

 A local meteorologist posted this picture of a VERY isolated shower in our area.  Numerous times we have had rain on one side of our home, but not on the other, which blows my mind. As I looked at this photo I thought of how we can have a tendency to isolate ourselves from the world.  Admittedly, there are days I want to close the gate and just hide out here at Shiloh and we are called to times of refreshment and restoration. For our good, Christians should never isolate themselves from other believers. It is dangerous. God did not create us to be alone. We are part of the  body of Christ and are to have fellowship with one other. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12 warns us... T wo people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand...

  Baptism certainly doesn't secure your salvation. Jesus did that on the cross. But this past Sunday, 66 people from our church chose to tell the world they are thankful Jesus died for their sins by participating in a public baptism at Smith Mt Lake.   I just love a reason to shout hallelujah!  In a world that taunts us with heartache and discouragement every time we pick up our phones or turn on the TV, it's such a delight to have a reason to rejoice. I was baptized as an infant in the denomination my parents raised me, but that was their choice for me, not mine. I  loved growing up in the church,  but years later  as an adult I chose to make a public profession of my faith by immersion.  The waters here at Shiloh are always open and my husband on hand to baptize anyone feeling the Lord calling them to identify with Christ in this way. Peter said to them, “Turn to God and be baptized, every one of you, in the na...

  Pool duck strutting his stuff. A couple years ago we were visiting family in Florida and were sitting by the hotel pool when this duck flew in and took over the place with confidence and maybe arrogance.  It reminded me of earlier in the summer when a young woman entered an outdoor restaurant wearing a thong bathing suit and definitely was strutting her stuff.  Quite the show. I asked a young college student recently what I could pray for him.  He loves the Lord, has a gorgeous voice and is part of a worship team at his university.  He said, "I have been placed in leadership this year and am not a bold person.  I'm more of a quiet introvert, but God is calling me to a place of leadership where I need confidence and boldness." What a great prayer request!  Friends as we look around the world we all need confidence in who we are in Christ and boldness to endure persecution and carry out what He has called us to do. The Song "Be Bold, Be Bold" https://w...

  Back to school in Tampa Sorry I missed yesterday. It happens and God forgives. Glory to God- Maranatha! Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_LFa275HVE

  It's Fall and toilet bowl swirl time again.  You know, those days when so much is going on that you feel yourself swirling downward Summers at Shiloh have more people under foot, but it's a very unstructured setting with activities mostly guided by the weather. Fall on the other hand is "get back in gear" with regularly scheduled activities and just when we get into the swing of things the demands of the holidays hit us.  God sends winter to slow us down and settle our souls. I've already started praying for lots of snow days so my man is stuck here with me. We both just had our annual medical examinations and passed with flying colors, so it appears God has strengthened us physically to keep up with the pace set around us. This past weekend, a friend and I were discussing the intensity in the level of evil activity we see.  She said, "There truly are wolves amongst the sheep."   1 Thessalonians 5:21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that ...

  In a nightmare, I was high above a ski slope and was trying to cross a grated platform that was filled with revolving, on end, snowboards which were causing me to slip. I had just seen ski gear in our daughters garage that evening and metal racks full of boxes from the move she is in the process of unpacking. I assume this visual is what brought about the dream.  While awake I decided to read some devotionals and Biblegateway and the first verse I read was  Psalm 94:18-19.  The Lord had my attention. When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love   and kept me steady. And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me   and made me feel secure . Psalm 94:18-19 The days we are living in are like none other I have experience. Having a spouse who is in full-time ministry may heighten the magnitude of the realization that spiritual warfare appears to be intensifying in our nation.  James makes no ifs, ands, or buts...we will experience trials....

God has an answer for every dilemma we get ourselves into.  Of the times that I have cried out "Will You just show me what to do?  I wish You'd mail me a letter, an email or send a text. I'll obey, just tell me!"  We are called to dig deeply ourselves and search The Letter He sent us long ago.  Inside the pages of the Bible holds the road map to life and an intimacy with the One who loves us like no other.  The One who holds all the answers. Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 The Bible says; Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy way acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.     Proverbs. 3:5 When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, he told them his confidence was not in his own lofty speech or wisdom, but in the work of Christ, His Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2 God's Word i...

Years ago, the gentleman in the center of this photo was a football player at UNC and our children selected him as a pen pal.  He became a part of our family. tied together closely by our common love for Christ.  He married a godly woman whom we love deeply and they have three children.  Their oldest son became an NFL quarterback five years ago and that has been quite a unique, ever changing adventure. They handle that whole world much better than I ever could. We were at one of his games three years ago where he was knocked unconscious and that did it for me. Playing this game is his passion though.  This week of preseason play he was moved down to third string, although he has had two great preseason shows.   Preseason in the NFL is truly a tryout every year. Cuts and trades are part of the business.  I texted this young man, whom I've loved for 27 years, after the game and told him "I think I saw God smile during his after game interview."  This QB ...

  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 The Song "How He Loves Us"  David Crowder Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDSE438XMaQ&list=PLZPrmAhCVrEPf7Av5U6txu1xnNYMmyarr&index=4

Have you ever been at a dinner table where someone got ticked off, pushed away from the table, and storming off ended the enjoyment of what the meal was to be? The devil digs into some of our most intimate times and wreaks distraction from what God intended the time to be. Busyness is a tactical tool of the devil. Louie Giglio says, "We are invited to a table with the King and we don't even have time to sit down." Growing up I was blessed to be part of a family where dinner time was an expectation, a steadfast requirement of each day. We had assigned seats at the table, my father always served the plates and everyone sat through the entire meal until we were excused.  Being the youngest child, I watched my oldest brother 13 years older leave first, then my brother 9 years older, and finally my sister who is 7 years older.  By that time, my mother's alcoholism often kept her from the table and it was only my sweet daddy and myself, but we still ate together. Returning ...

Be Welcoming Whew. If you want to get Mama Boo on a rampage fail to be welcoming to others.   A warm welcome makes you feel as if you belong.  We have no idea what the people walking through our doors Sunday morning are facing in their lives.  Most everyone enters the house of the Lord believing they will be safe, loved and welcomed. A smile has the power to warm a heart no matter the age of the recipient. A friendly smile makes you happy, and good news makes you feel strong.   Proverbs 15:30   We have the opportunity each day to freely give away smiles and the Good News! When the crowds learned it, they followed him (Jesus), and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God.   Luke  9:11 Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with the gift of welcoming. Jesus said,  And when you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me .   Matthew 18:5 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thir...

  You Can Know God by Anne Graham Lotz You will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. —  Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV   If Adam knew God as a beloved Father, if Eve knew Him as the original Homemaker, if Noah knew Him as the Refuge from the storm, if Abraham knew Him as a Friend, if Moses knew Him as the Redeemer, if Rahab knew Him as the gracious Savior, if David knew Him as his Shepherd, if Elijah knew Him as the Almighty, if Daniel knew Him as the Lion Tamer, if Mary Magdalene knew Him as the Bondage Breaker, if Martha knew Him as the Promise Keeper, if Lazarus knew Him as the Resurrection and the Life, if Bartimaeus knew Him as the Light of the World, if John knew Him as the glorious King upon the throne, surely you and I can know Him too!   ~ Just Give Me Jesus The Song  ( Even  if you have to hide out in your bathroom, spend 6 minutes worshipping Jesus in this way.) " Give Me Jesus" by ...

  Cousins hitting the road together looking for a great adventure. A beautiful young 10 year old girl was a visitor to Shiloh this summer.  One morning she came to me and inquired, "Mama Boo, how do I tell a friend about Jesus."  She proceeded to show me a text where she had suggested a struggling friend turn to Jesus.  The fellow elementary aged student asked her how she knew Jesus was actually real. We discussed giving this boy a Bible, but the girl said, "I don't think his mother would allow him to have one."  We prayed and the Spirit led me to suggest she take this boy, even if just by text, down the Roman Road.   Below is what I shared with this little disciple and I sent an email copy of what we had discussed to her mother.  May this help equip each of you when faced with a similar situation. The Roman Road   Watch this video https://www.worshiphousekids.com/kids-church-videos/14219/the-roman-road Roma...

  The woodland chapel at Shiloh. On this particular day, treasure was found...wooden swords. Concerning the sword of the Spirit, Matthew Henry's commentary states: "This sword has the ability to trample any objections to Christianity posed by Satan."  We are to study the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, to learn how to handle this weapon  correctly. Tony Evans' teaching on the sword of the Spirit: "The only offensive weapon in the armor of God, because it's the only one we need!" Please take 3 minutes to see why we need to know the Word of God!  The Sword of the Spirit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kviVFlr0Kmo Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.   For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the s...

 An auntie investing in her nieces. The Song   (Get ready to get up and boogie for the Lord) "The Goodness" Toby Mac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L5xi8DbQ5c

Our Minnesota grand-man!   Smiles are Contagious  A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13 Or  Happiness makes you smile; sorrow can crush you.  Proverbs 15:13 (CEV) A cheerful look brings joy to the heart.    Proverbs 15:30 A smile in your heart means a smile on your face. What goes on inside, shows up outside. Also, a smile is a great weapon against grumblers. I really don’t like wearing masks because they cover up our smiles.  I find myself looking at people and saying, “I’m smiling under here!” When the pandemic began, I was coming out of Kroger one day and quickly removed my mask in the parking lot.  That alone probably made me smile, but there was a lady in a van who rolled down her window and said, “Thank you for smiling. No one ever smiles anymore.”  What a sad truth that was. I replied, When you love Jesus and know how much he loves you it’s hard not to smile....

Someone was lying when they told our infant granddaughter this was good for her. From “Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table”  Louie Giglio (I referenced this yesterday.) Remember… You are in a winning story!   Each day of the week say… Monday My God knows my name. I have called you by name.  Isaiah 43:1 Tuesday My God goes before me. He is the One who goes before me.  Deuteronomy 31:8 Wednesday Christ gives me strength. I can do all things through Chris who strengthens me.   Philippians 4:13 Thursday My current sufferings pale in comparison with what God has for me. Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 Friday No weapon formed against me will prosper. No weapon formed agains you will prosper.  Isaiah 54:17 Saturday I am a child of God. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:16 Sunday The same power that...

  This man wonders the property at Shiloh around 4:30 in the morning. Many a person has wondered who this man is. Our minds are a mess!  I need to start my mornings repeating 2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to Christ. My mind is so fast to rush off in the wrong direction.  Being alone at Shiloh is not always my comfort zone.  Tuesday morning I was heading back in from an early morning water aerobics class.  Rarely do you pass a car on the 1/2 mile long Moonriver Lane, but this particular morning an older model car was exiting our road.  A young tattooed man with a cigarette hanging out his mouth and smoke wafting from his window slowed down to let me pass. I had already put my window down to inquire who he was departing this private road. He got the jump on me, which unnerved me a bit.  I smiled and he said, "Is everyth...

  Our 8 year old granddaughter in Minnesota and her pony, Snickers, are loving show life. Some of our sons and our son in law have joined the ranks of little league coaches in recent years.  It is a challenge to coach a group of youngsters in a sport they have never played and get them to follow through with directions and stay the course. Confession...I've never stayed the course in a read through the Bible in a Year attempt and probably only once on a diet attempt. If you want to read a fabulous "stay the course and finish well" story in the Bible check out Daniel 6:1-22.  Daniel's faith and refusal to compromise didn't make him the popular guy among his colleagues, but rather invoked a jealousy that resulted in scheming to get Daniel tossed into the lions' den. I love how in verse 3 it explains that Daniel had "become  distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit  was in him." Oh dear friends, I...

  That's how it is with my words.   They don't return to me  without doing everything   I send them to do.    Isaiah 55:11 Elijah heared the whisper of God on the mountain. Moses saw God in a bush, then had very consistent communion with God. Deborah received battle plans and Elijah received travel plans. Samuel received many messages from God as a child, the first when he was a young child. Simeon received a very personal promise that he would live to see the Messiah. Paul, Joseph, Solomon, and Daniel received messages in dreams. Isaiah, Peter, and John received visions. So how do we know it is God's voice.  Henry Blackaby did a study years ago called When God Speaks . Our 10 and 11 year old grandsons are doing a similar study for students right now. I found these guidelines on   https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/kids-ideas-blog/how-does-god-speak/ 1) Is it in accordance with the character of God?  (With a student, I’d ask, ‘Does it ‘so...