Boojoyful

   I love this photo of a couple of our grands heading off on their bikes. Where are you headed?  When you look at 2024 are there some destinations on your calendar that excite you? When we use our navigation systems the voice comes on and says, "You have reached your final destination."  NOT!  For those who love the Lord Jesus our final destination is Heaven! Here is another fun, make someone think response to the question, "Where are you headed?"  We can simply say, "Heaven!" If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  Colossians 3:1-2 Author, Robert Morgan (I shared about his book The Red Sea Rules  earlier this year)   lists on his website 10 things he is looking forward to in heaven. The Throne My Loved Ones The Golden City The New Earth My Mansion The New Heavens ...

Angels we will hear on high! In my earlier years I liked to plan. It was actually a survival mode having six children only eight years apart.  We arrived at a point where they were only allowed to participate in two extra curricular activities a week, because that equated to 12 places for us to deliver them.  Vacations had to be planned around school breaks. One year they were attending four different schools. Meals, clothing, sports/sporting equipment, music lessons, church and Young Life activities, homework, gifts for attending friends' birthday parties, feeding pets, extra curricular activities, doctor and dental appointments and household chores required keeping my day timer by my side. Drinking alcohol was not an option! I needed full brain function.  We prayed our way through those years and are still in prayer mode as our family has grown from 8 to 28 members. God is the ultimate planner!  How He keeps the universe in tact a...

Our beloved, Mason, Rudolph, giving answers in interviews after a great Steelers win last week. But respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts .”  Isaiah 8:12-13    Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have.  1 Peter 3:1 5 If you know us well you know the story of how Mason Rudolph is part of our family.  What you may not know is after 5 years with the Steelers as back up quarterback, third string this year, December 23rd he was called into action to be the starting QB.  He had an awesome game and led the Steelers to a 34-11 victory over the Bengals. That kind of performance was only possible because he was physically and mentally PREPARED to compete at this level at a moment's notice. He began his on the field post game interview saying, "First I must thank my Creator, Jesus Christ, for this opportunity."  You see, he was PREPARED, but also HUMBLE in heart having the greatest...

Caught crafting with my favorite three year old! How different our lives would look if this was our daily prayer. I am printing this one off! "A Private Litany of Humility" by Louie Giglio From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being honored,  deliver me, Jesus. From the desire or being preferred,  deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being consulted,  deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being approved,   deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of comfort and ease,  deliver me, Jesus. From  the fear of being humiliated,   deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being criticized,  deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being passed over,  deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being forgotten,  deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being lonely,  deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being hurt,  deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of suffering,...

Raising five sons and now romping with 13 grands there is always some reconciling to be done.  The winter warriors above are on the same teach fortunately. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.                                                                       2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (WEB) Isn't there an old hymn with the lyric "God will make a way when there seems to be no way"? For our sins to be pardoned, us washed as white as snow and us welcomed into God's family reconciliation has to take place, because of ...

May your day be filled with the love of Jesus and poured out upon others. “Christmas Day” Chris Tomlin/We the Kingdom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=182xcb3GyOg “When Love Was Born” Mark Schultz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKSU9Dbxvrw

I'm a clay artist.  I'm a bridal gown model.                                                                                       We run a tea house. I"m an actor and soloist.   This time of year calls for gatherings.  Some we look forward to and others we wish we didn't have to attend. Many people dread the questions from strangers, distant family members they haven't seen for years or individuals they are meeting because they have married into a family. The first uncomfortable question usually posed is   "What do you do?" That stirs emotions and anxiety in itself.  Oh, the pressure. The other two awkward ones are "Are you married yet?" and "Do you have children?" The next time someone says, "What d...

  The chaos can be too much at times~ One of the intriguing things about group Bible study is that we can all read the same verse of scripture and learn a totally different lesson pertaining to our individual lives at that time.  We may study the same passage years later in a totally different situation and be impacted by God's Words. In a recent sermon at our church Romans 12:18  was cited pertaining to relationships we would be facing over Christmas break.  Do your best to live at peace with everyone. Following that service I received texts and had conversations with people who said, "Whoa! That really spoke to me"  (marriage related) "Sometimes in the moment it's hard to understand what God is telling you."           (An  in- law relationship) "Maneuvering relationships in prison can be testy." "I wish my girlfriend would apply this to her heart." "Pray I can apply this to my...

 Long, long ago!  The Bridegroom coming for his bride. It was December 1976 and I was home from Florida for college break. The neighbor across the street knew his cousin, also home from college, needed a date for a party and suggested he call me. We knew the family, but this fellow was three years older and we'd never been in school together. Hearing a car pull up in front of my parents' house I peeked out the window to see a little blue MG convertible and the most gorgeous guy get out and head down the walk to our front door. The bell rang, my mother answered and then came to my bedroom door to see if I was ready. I grabbed her by the shoulders and said, "Oh my goodness! He's gorgeous. She smiled, "Yes, he is."  He had that preppy look. Wide wale cords and a four square color block sweater. Oh how I wish we'd had cell phones back then so I could have snapped a photo. The best part of the story is that I still feel that sa...

  Whew! The Christmas countdown is a furious season of waiting.  People are waiting for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales . Waiting to attend the office party, get your child's costume finished in time for the Christmas program (okay, maybe Holiday these days), for the cookies to come out of the kitchen and  for everyone to arrive safely and healthy for your family gathering. I've already set our dining room table and found myself praying for each name that will hopefully be sitting there. The flu bugs are flying! I shared earlier about how at my age you begin longing for heaven and thinking when is Jesus going to come back! The PrayerMate app I use has an Advent series called "Waiting for Jesus."   On Day 15 a question was posed: "Have you ever given thanks to God for the fact that Jesus didn't return before you became a Christian?" In a counseling session last week in exasperation a woman inqui...

  There is no greater earthly gift than seeing someone you love be baptized. Love this young woman from our church. There is something so joyous about hanging out with 3-6 year olds at Christmas.                                         The anticipation of what's to come Christmas morning and the enthusiasm over the Christmas decorations all around and the many activities on the schedule equates to a lot of merriment and probably too much sugar, but it is energizing and joy filled.   Our grandchildren attend seven different schools and I am stopping this very moment to pray for the stress level of the seven music teachers and band directors at those schools!  Having been an elementary school teacher and married to a Head of School, I know what an anxious time it can be and how Christmas break is much needed for those tea...

One of our grandsons has the sweetest response to certain  questions that are posed...he will say, "It's a mystery!" Paul tells us of a great mystery  that comes  to fruition through Christ's birth, death and resurrection. The victory over death! It was a glorious day when Jesus was born, a glorious day when he rose from the dead and it will be a glorious day when he comes again! Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,   in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.     For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.     When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:  “Death is swallowed up in victory.”  “O death, ...

  Our daughter will be harping away tonight! As we continue to allow our hearts to prepare Him room, sing praise to our King. Gather some children for the first one.  Come to our church's campus in Rocky Mt, VA for our Christmas Program at 6PM tonight. Franklin Heights 110 Hilltop Drive  Sunday Songs  “What A Glorious Night” Sidewalk Prophets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGLV5CfoTU Hope Was Born This Night Sidewalk Prophets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fok1h3p1sh8

I tried a different type Christmas arrangement in my kitchen..cherries, limes, peppers and radishes!   There are so many wonderful worship styles.  Brandon Lake and Maverick City Worship put together a time of Christmas worship where the Spirit flows! The title..."Joy to the World" brought the lyrics "Let every heart prepare Him room" to mind and give me cause to pause.  I am preparing food, decorations, packages, handmade gifts, but how much room is there in the coming week for Jesus. Joy to the world, the Lord is come Let Earth receive her King Let every heart prepare Him room And Heaven and nature sing And Heaven and nature sing And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing Joy to the World Maverick City (44 minute special) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS7eZPVEP2E

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.                                1 Corinthians 10:31 What is the glory of God? I googled that question. (Not that Google knows it all.) The first two entries that popped up stated... "God's glory is the  magnificence , worth, loveliness, and grandeur of his many perfections. God  communicates his glory through his creation, image-bearers, providence, and redemptive acts." "The basic meaning of the word glory is “heavy in weight.” It is the “weighty importance and shining majesty that accompany God's presence.” The verb glorify means “to give weight to” or “to honor.” Thus, to glorify God is to recognize God for who He really is and to respond appropriately." John Piper defines glorifying as  " feeling and thinking and acting in ways that reflect his greatness, that make much of...