Boojoyful

  Part of the Speed Mentoring program we participate in at our church involves engaging the mentee in conversation by asking them to answer three questions related to a rose.  1 Please share a bud-something good in your life right now. 2 Please share a bloom- something you are looking forward to. 3 Please share a thorn- something you would like me to be praying for. Sharing about mentoring with a group of women at a retreat recently, I thought,  "Lord, help me be prepared to answer those questions if someone asks me." 1) The bud is that I am more in love with my husband than I've ever been in 48 years. 2) The bloom I'm looking forward to summer ministry at Shiloh and to Jesus coming back to earth. 3) The th0rn would be for healing in my left knee and leg, but in the meantime to be joyful always, praying without ceasing and in all things giving thanks and pointing others to Jesus, even with a limp. The very next morning a friend sent this song. And I could be joyful th...

My women's church connect group is a great source of prayer and support.   After committing to speak at a woman's weekend retreat, the devil darts were flying and I didn't know how it would all come together. A few nights before I said to my husband, "Don't ever let me do this again. I really don't like it."  My rant continued. "Years ago, when I was a Christian Women's Club speaker, I think I really wanted them to like me. Now, I really don't care if they like me or not." He said, "I think you should start off saying that."  We laughed and laughed. He went on..."Say, I don't really care if you like me or what I have to say.  I'm just doing what God told me and speaking truth, so there. Just sit back and listen."  Oh, my I love this man. He does make me laugh. God loves us too and what he calls us to has purpose and He does the equipping, so I decided to go in joy. My topic was "Wisdom from a Worn In Grand...

 These two are faithful to call us from Minnesota every weekend and fill us in on life! I was grumbling, bemoaning, something I'd been called to do and there came the Voice. "What I call you to, I will see you through.  You need to listen."   No one knows for certain who wrote Hebrews but there is encouraging, equipping,  message in chapter 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,   equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Amen!  You know how one thing leads to another, when I was googling to find the theme  of Hebrews I came upon this video clip and thought it was excellent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHyHfwBRhW8 The Song “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us” Austin Stone ht...

  Probably more than ten years ago I saw the idea of letting your children plant a jelly bean in dirt the night before Easter Sunday, then when they go in the yard the next morning the bean has turned into a lollipop.  We tried it and it was magical. Such a hit with the grands. The problem is they want to do it every time they spend the night, so I have to keep a stash of jelly beans and lollies on hand, be aware when they are doing this and get up before them to put in the lollipop after the dew has fallen. I forgot one day and told our grandson, "See that squirrel nest in that tree. I bet you anything that busy tailed squirrel has your lollipop." To save our backs from having to stoop down to the ground, we started letting them plant in the planter right outside our front door.  We have gotten a little reprieve by saying, "Like the flowers, the beans don't grow in cold weather. We must wait until spring!" Does laughter grow in your home?   Are there reasons to...

  I feel certain over the years I've shared my apprehension of birds with you readers. The definition of apprehensive is "anxious or fearful something bad or unpleasant will happen." This reaction to birds comes from my grandmother showing me baby blue jays in a nest and the mother or father bird attacking her by swooping into her hair and then pooping on her shoe.  That was traumatic enough, but nothing like my neighborhood girlfriend making me watch "The Birds" with her while spending the night in fourth grade.   We have m ean geese in our cove, way too many woodpeckers, and swallows that like to nest in the boat house and then swoop at us when we are on the dock. I've been known to sit there with a paddle swatting at them in the air to protect our grandchildren.  . None of these aggressive birds are my favorite. But, I love listening to the morning chorus of the birds that calls out with joy, "It's a new day, praise the Lord!"  The gracefuln...

  I've always enjoyed setting a pretty table. My father enjoyed beautiful china and gave all of his children and grandchildren 12 piece place settings, with matching serving pieces from china patterns that had special meaning to him.  On this table in our kitchen is my paternal grandmother's pattern that she told me from the time I was a little girl would become mine when I married. The other day my husband shared with me that every night before he falls asleep he recited Psalm 23 from memory and he hopes he never forgets it. We both remember learning this Psalm in our elementary years. I told him I wished reciting the Psalm was something we would do together at night, but then we laughed, because we never go to sleep at the same time.  He can be out by 8PM and right now I am typing away at 12 AM as he snores beside me.        But I will type these words David, a man after God's own heart, knew all too well and thank God for the man beside me who has c...

  I am not sleeping or slacking off with Boojoyful, but something has happened to my Gmail account not allowing me to send or receive email, as well as compromising my ability to post on this site at times.  It will be later next week until I can find a way to access help.   I call these disturbances in life "Devil Darts."  Please pray for a resolution. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."  Ephesians 6:10-11 "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one."  2 Thessalonians 3:3

Here's a fun Saturday Aside.  Some Excellent Acronyms A.C.T.      =      Acknowledge, Confess, Thank A.S.K.      =     Ask, Seek, Knock A.S.A.P.    =     Always Say A Prayer B.I.B.L.E.  =     Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth B.U.S.Y      =    Being Under Satan's Yoke C.I.A.           =     Christians in Action; Christ is Alive C.O.P.S         =   Christians Obediently Preaching Salvation F.E.A.R.     =    False Evidence  Appearing  Real F.R.O.G.     =   Fully Rely On God G.O.D.        =  God Our Defender G.P.S.         =  Getting Prayers Said G.R.A.C.E. =    God's Riches At Christ's Expense H.A.L.T.    =    Hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. J.O.Y ...

  A friend in my connect group told us a story about a woman, who seeing her downcast, approached her and gave her a little plastic  green frog. She told her to remember to Fully Rely on God.  I loved this creative way of encouragement and ordered a bag of green frogs that I keep in my car to use to spread joy. While visiting a local place of business, owned by a young man whom I have known since his teens, the Lord prompted me to bestow a frog upon him.  I inquired, "Do you know what F. R.O.G. stands for?"   Quickly, he replied,  "Fully Rely on Grace. The older I get Boo, the more I realized how much undeserved grace I have recieved." WOW. That was my reminder lesson for the day.  So often when we think we are being a blessing we get blessed back in a bigger way. God's grace. May we remember to thank Him for that everyday. The Song "All Because of Mercy" Casting Crowns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOagHp9vnA4

I have no idea where God is taking me with this, but for three days in a row he has brought "the kiss" to mind.  Maybe some of you are teaching youth/college students and looking for a Biblical resource on the topic of kissing.  Maybe someone is headed abroad this spring and needs some information on "cheek kisses." There is actually a plethora of articles on this topic. I've included some links at the end.  Possibly, you are like me and you smother your grandchildren in kisses.  I bet I kiss our infant granddaughter more than ten times a day on her fat little cheeks and sweet little neck when she stays with me.  Recently, I received a greeting from a Nigerian sister in Christ and it included being held by the shoulders and "air kissed" on both cheeks. It was so sincere and oozed with sisterly love.   We have a vibrant German Baptist community in our area and these men greet one another with a  holy kiss  right on the lips.  Kisses come ...

  Frustration grew as I attempted to write a devotional. Every time I opened a draft, the screen clicked to a page saying "Post Edit" and it simply showed the words from the post, but nothing could be done on that page. Each time I would have to exit the site. The thought that the enemy placed on my mind was "Okay, time to quit doing this, I just cant' write this anymore."  But I knew the sound of defeat, so I prayed "What should I do Lord?"  The answer, "Shut the whole computer down and start again." When the machine rebooted my inbox popped up and there was a devotional holding the perfect scripture for the piece I had been working on and in the process God gave me the idea for this post, so it was a win, win.   Walking with Jesus is just like that. We feel discouraged, defeated, guilty, grieved beyond belief, or not good enough and in our shutting down we find the One who shows us how to start again.  The One who shows us our sins can be f...

Our son and grandson who have been the Pinewood Derby kings for several years finishing strong! What are you looking forward to ? Looking up the definition for  looking forward to  most related to the act of being pleased or excited that something is going to happen. The to  in the phrase is a preposition, so it must be followed by a something. For years, raising six children, there was always something on the calendar to look forward   to  (or as the mother, to get prepared for).  We are looking forward to Christmas. We are looking forward to our baby's birth . We are looking forward to the baby sleeping through the night . We are looking forward to a  birthday party. We are looking forward to this week's  athletic competitions. We are looking forward to our child getting his driver's license. We are looking forward to the kids going to college and moving out on their own. I awakened one Saturday morning, trying first to figure out what day it w...

One of our scripture signs. Love the plant sprouting up. We ought always  to give thanks to God for you,  brothers  and sisters , as is  only  fitting, because your faith is increasing abundantly, and the  love of each and every one of you toward one another grows  ever  greater. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Our pastor is presently preaching an excellent series on "Standing Firm," and referenced this verse above explaining that the word ought  relates to an obligation  we have. We are obligated to give thanks to God for all he has done. I am so thankful to God to be part of a welcoming, loving, diverse congregation. As I looked around our worship center one Sunday, there were Hispanics, Filipinos, African Americans, an Israeli, a Nigerian, city folk and country folk. Our worship leader is from Alaska and a very active member who raised her children in Hawaii. So many different cultural back grounds, but we all love one another, because we love ...

  This is a painting done last summer by our grandchildren. There were no "don'ts" you could paint whatever you wanted in your section. Can you find the football! I know this is the day of "Gentle Parenting" but it is okay to say, "No!" There are plenty of "Don'ts" and "D o nots" in the Bible. Laddle those moments with love, teachable explanations and the realization there are consequences (good and bad) for our behavior. No matter our age, God is still training us up for heaven. He issues many a "No" in my life. "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."                   Proverbs 3:11-12 As a child, my parents had house rules that were to be followed. There would be major consequences if rules were broken.  One particular rule as a teen was "Keep a dime in your pocket, so if you are ou...

Spa Time Leads to Dress Up time with my living doll. I was on a hunt in Philippians for something totally unrelated when my heart thrilled at Paul's words in chapter 1. He wrote these words of encouragement from jail. It made me stop and thank God for all my fellow believers with whom I've studied God's Word, prayed and praised with, and   been encouraged by.  The song I selected today, "Gifts From God" caused me to remember that being a part of a body of believers is a gracious gift from God. This Sunday when you sit in your place of worship pause long enough to look around  you and thank God for the people sitting there. God has a unique purpose for each individual. Those people will have an opportunity in the coming days to take the love of  Christ to places you may never go and to people you may not know.  Thank God for the people who have come to church throughout the world to grow deeper in their faith and understanding of God's love and are committed to...