Boojoyful

  It's a Hallelujah party.  We are not huge fans of Halloween. I am not into spooky even though my name is Boo. When our children were young we'd offer them dinner out, $10 each and a trip to Toys R Us to buy whatever they wanted with that money. (Yes, $10 went a lot further 35 years ago. I was just suckered into paying $15 for a tiny LEGO figure.)  The whole evening was done wearing  costumes. We actually liked dressing  up year round in costumes and still do!   Nowadays, with the grands, we gather at Shiloh for a Hallelujah weekend!  We have a blast.  We  post adults at 6 exterior doors and the children go around the house 3 times to receive treats at each door where the adults are playing praise songs on their cell phones.  Instead of Trick or Treat you raise a "Hallelujah!" Some of the events this year included rides in our Mule (a week vehicle, not an animal),  in...

  This hippo has more than a mouthful. I awakened for the all too familiar 3AM potty call and then couldn't shut my mind off.  First I was going over the details for a mentoring program we were doing at church that morning and ended up on the computer printing off a schedule and emailing a few people. By 4AM I knew I needed to go back to sleep, but my mind had other ideas.  It shifted into menu planning for Thanksgiving week. Are you kidding me?  Then I heard the Lord clearly, "Martha, Martha," He said, "You are worrying about many things when you should be thinking about me." So, now it is 5AM and I am typing these thoughts and hopefully heading back for an hour of sleep before I head off into a very busy day. Luke 10:38-42 The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in...

  Our walnut work crew. $1 a bucket. My husband says this year it looks like the trees will drop 10,000 walnuts. That makes walking through our yard difficult. So, thankful to have these helpers! Do your work willingly, as though you were serving the Lord himself, and not just your earthly master. Colossians 3:23 Do you think the disciples were happy helpers when they were told to toss their nets, go to a town for food, feed 5,00 by faith, walk to Samaria, see Jesus headed to the cross? The work God calls us to is not always of our choosing, understandable to the human mind, or of what we would consider great value, but whatever it is, it is purposeful. In BSF we meditated on John chapter 5 this week.  Verses 17 quotes Jesus... " But Jesus said, 'My Father has never stopped working, and this is why I keep on working.' " If you remember the story, he healed the man by the pool on the Sabbath and then went on to say God was his Father. Some feathers were ruffled. "...

  Off to watch our 14 year old grandson play his last football game of the season! A family of 3 generations of football players! When we place ourselves in purposeful fellowship, where God's Word is the central feature of our gathering times, we grow.  The past few years I have been in a "connect group" from our church called Sisters of the Round Table.  We meet weekly around a circular kitchen table to discuss God's Word in various formats and pray, pray, pray.  God has great purpose in teaching us to "stir one another" to be devoted to study His Word together.   This past week we completed a study called "Growing Together" which is a challenge to mentor others.  As I listen to the insight of these other women and all they glean from meditating on God's Word my own mind is stimulated and what God is trying to teach me is enhanced. Having been in constant pain the past 10 months it's been a challenge for Boojoyful to be joyful...

Y'all I had a devil dart last week and lost a whole devotional I'd written called "Tap to Continue," so here I am, continuing on. The friend in the beautiful photo above has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, which has affected his vision and he is having to choose to tap to continue  with the Lord's help as he adjust to some limitations. The phrase tap to continue  popped up on a game of Solitaire I was playing on my phone and it made me think of how everyday we are faced with decisions to continue or quit challenges, chores, and choices before us. The Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.   2 Peter 3:9 If we say we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. 1 John 1:8-9 The Song "He Will Ke...

  Our daughter's hydrangeas are overflowing with the beauty of God. God promises... I will meet all your needs so you can overflow with good works. The closer I get to Jesus the more I realize it is all about Him!  As Henry Blackaby taught so many years ago in  Experiencing God ,  "We are to join God in his work,  not expect Him to join us in ours." God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.  2 Corinthians 9:8 Years ago we visited a resort that had a spa.  There were several types of services you could partake of, but one I remember reading about was an overflowing tub bath.  You could soak in a clawfoot tub, resting your neck on a towel on the back of the tub and the warm waters flowed over the top edge of the tub onto a tile floor with a drain.  It sounded delightful. God blesses us, so that we are filled up to overflowing and can bless others, t...

Our beautiful granddaughter in Minnesota Not everyone is a morning person, but Mama Boo definitely awakens with a song in her heart and ready to whistle a happy tune.  Not all of our children appreciated that growing up and a couple grandchildren who were living with us and having to leave by 6:50AM for school didn't like it either. I've drew faces on bananas, laid out cinnamon toast crunch on a plate in a happy face design and even skewed fresh fruit on sword tooth picks and they still held back the smiles. (Although, I think they were having to be intentional to keep from smiling.) Never before have I noticed Proverb 27:14.  Maybe I need to be certain I have a quiet cheerful morning voice. A loud greeting early in the morning is the same as a curse.  Yikes. Whatever our wake up mode it's better with Jesus and sweetened with praise. I rise before the dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words. Psalm 119:147 In the morning, O Lord, You...

This one is ready for church! Sweet Sisters love by God, Most likely, I am going to be late for church!  I start down these rabbit holes with Jesus and just never want to leave.  I don’t even know where I was going but I ended up on these two sites and just had to share. My prayer is that as you dig into each scripture below the Lord teaches you something new about yourself,  your children and the depth of His love for you. I am praying that this very day you find an unexpected blessing in motherhood no matter what age your children are. Thanking God that I can call you a sister in Christ, Love, Boo If you are reading Boojoyful and not a mother, pass this along to a mother who needs this encouragement.  I was not able to make these links "clickable" you will need to copy and paste. Sorry. https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/bible-verses-for-moms-when-you-need-encouragement-free-devotional/ https://www.focusonthefamily.com/wp-conte...

Our daughter was able to accompany her husband on a business trip to Panama and while there they went on a sloth excursion. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Romans 12:11 ESV Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.  Romans 12:11-13 The Message This morning I had written a devotional called "Tap to Continue" and lost the whole thing, so I am going to be slothful in writing and enjoy my sweet sweet house guests and write again on Monday. Love you all

  The view from our bedroom window. The Lord placed a friend upon my heart and I asked how I could pray for her. She said, "Pray gratitude."  She and her daughter had just safely returned from France not knowing war would break out in the Middle East while they were there. She asked how she could pray for me and I had to ponder.  Then she texted, "Don't be shy.  We are all in the "human condition".  Yes we are! The Song "Jesus, Friend of Sinners"  Casting Crowns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY6VAy9y_iQ (I may be posting every other day for the next week.  Don't think I've been ruptured without you.)

  Our 9 year old Minnesota granddaughter enjoying horse show life. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 What situation are you facing that you would say you lack confidence? Just this past week we had grandchildren in different cities going on their first overnight school and Young Life retreats.  It takes confidence to bunk in with other middle schoolers for the first time.  We had a 5 year old grandson going on his first sleep over that wasn't with grandparents. And as I showed yesterday a high school grandson faced giants on the football field. As a stroke survivor I can tell you it takes confidence to take a step or try to find the right words to speak.  And all of those on our prayer lists with medical needs exhibit confidence and trust as...

  Our grandson running the ball above and playing defense below. His original private school game was cancelled and a large public school agreed to come play.  We all admitted, players and parents alike, we were scared when we saw the size of the other team, but it was a great game with us losing by only 3 points in the last seconds. The news of war usually affects us all, even if we are not in the line of fire.  We know someone whose safety is threatened; we have loved ones  in our military being placed on high alert; or for those with spiritual eyes we recognize the spiritual battle that is behind the conflict and we pray with a deep fervency. I am part of a prayer ministry called "Bless Every Home".  Each weekday I received the names and addresses of 5 neighbors, most of whom I do not know, to pray for.  The site sends a prayer to pray for these people. This prayer appeared recently. "Father, remind me today to approach my neighbors without judgemen...

 Two of our sons explaining the rules for diving, one at a time in belts or jackets,   for treasure that is buried in a shallow area of our lake property. Thirsting for Jesus is the true treasure hunt! Oh God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirst for you; my flesh faints for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 In Bible study fellowship, around the world, we are studying the book of John and currently taking a look at the scene of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well. Both the sinner and the Savior were in need of water to sustain them on earth, so they had gone to a well.  (Jesus went knowing he would meet a woman in need of more than the momentary physical refreshment of water. She needed to drink of the spiritual water  that only comes from Jesus.) In John 4:13-15 ... Jesus said to her,  “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,   but whoev...

  We have a third ninja turtle in our midst. Ready to protect! I'm laughing out loud!  My husband always falls asleep before I do, because he is usually up by 3 AM and has put in an 18-19 hour day.  Just before he goes into a deep sleep he lifts his head, with his eyes still closed, and gives me a kiss.  The other night I said, "So long, farewell, until we meet again."  Then I chuckled. That really covers all the bases. If we see each other in the morning, hallelujah, if not, we WILL see one another in heaven, which is also a big hallelujah! But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not preced...

  Being with this sweet 12 year old grandson never leaves me empty. Hello! Other people are capable of replacing a toilet and paper towel rolls, tissue boxes, new trash bag, putting their dishes in the dishwasher, not eating the entire last cinnamon bun and refilling the empty Keurig machine with water.   Does your blood pressure ever rise when you realize once again you have been left empty?  Didn't their mamas teach them the Golden Rule.  "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12) You know who never leaves us empty?  Who is always waiting to fill us up? Jesus and the Word of God!  Just like it's hard to whistle when you are angry, it's hard to not feel loved, taught and cared for when you open your Bible and soak in God's goodness.  Even when you are feeling stepped on and forgotten by those who have left you empty, God's Word reminds us it's not about ...