Boojoyful

It was so much fun teaming up with this sweet daughter in law to prepare our feast.  God gives to us in such abundance. Have you ever stopped to thank him for the HUGE variety of foods he created for us? While yesterday's energies went mostly to celebrating a 16th birthday, getting food on the table and then napping and laying low all afternoon, we did squeeze in some Mama Boo Podcast moments and share a prayer poem that said so much about all that God has given us. This photo was taken just before our annual treasure hunt began. This year the older grands got to help create clues.  Remember...Matthew 6:21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Another tradition is playing a card game my parents taught me called "Michigan" the best parts are that it's simple enough for all ages and we get to use my grandfather's poker chips! It revolves around having the opportunity to play one of 4 winning cards. You don't have a whole lot of...

 Happy Thanksgiving  and  Happy 16th Birthday to our oldest grandchild! Who is still asleep or I'd post a photo! The Song "Thank You For It All" Marvin Sapp   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYormAJoEk8 Here's some worship music for whether you are cooking, washing the dishes or enjoying being served.   Feast and Worship “Lord of All.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlrsLAZPsVw You only are the Maker Of all things near and far; You paint the wayside flower, You light the evening star. The winds and waves obey you,  By you the birds are fed; Much more to us your children, You give us daily bread. We thank you then, Creator, For all things bright and good, The see time and the harvest, Our life, our health, our food. Amen (Matthias Claudius, 1740-1815)

Thanksgiving with these three in 2017...will send an update of what this year looks like. One of the most wonderful parts of the holidays is the "homecoming" or the "homegoing."  We get to do some of both this year.  This week we welcome home one of our sons and his family.  In December we will be going to the homes of four of our children. Being the WAY youngest of four children I was only 11 by the time my older siblings had all moved away. My oldest brother was 13 years my senior.  At 10 years old I became an aunt.  The best part of Christmas break was seeing the front door opened as my brother and his sweet little family, from Florida, would come through the front door. My brother and that nephew, who made me an aunt, went to heaven way too soon, but I am thankful for the times we shared around many a table. I was blessed to go to college 20 minutes from their home and then teach school at my nephew's elementary school.  After my brother, drown, my ne...

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8 I love the story of Esther and in this book a lot happens around a meal. Yes, there was some fasting with prayer, which is important, but there was also partying!   As you look at your holiday calendar remember God can be up to more than a good meal and the chance to dress up. Esther begins with two seven day parties. One for the king and his male guests and another given by Queen Vashti for the women inside the palace.   Esther 1:5,9 … King Xerxes gave another dinner and invited everyone in the city of Susa, no matter who they were. The eating and drinking lasted seven days in the beautiful palace gardens…While the men were enjoying themselves, Queen Vashti gave the women a big dinner inside the royal palace. As the story proceeds, things do not go well for Vashti and she is replaced as Queen by Esther.   Maybe Esther’s cousin Mordecai, who raised her after her parents died,   tau...

Sixteen of us gathered for a time of praise and prayer followed by breaking bread together around the table.  Many of these women had never met one another, but they all love the same Jesus and were comfortable with one another. The chatter and laughter was incessant, which thrilled my heart. There is such joy in seeing God's children together in community. One of my dearest friends for many years gave me the cookbook above in 2010. In the week ahead as we enter the holiday season I want to share some of the quotes, scriptures and maybe even recipes with you. Also, I want to encourage you to invite someone unexpected to share your table in the weeks ahead.   "Your Joy Will Be God's Missionary" Pg 109 in Come to the Table "Charles Spurgeon, born in 1834, was one of England's most popular clergymen. Reflecting upon the words of Nehemiah, he wrote the following: 'Send out the heat of piety into your house and let all the neighbors participate in the blessing...

  For the past several years my husband and a couple of his church buddies in their 70's have put up our outdoor Christmas tree. Last month, the two sidekicks both had surgery and neither will be putting up any trees this year.  I'm thanking the Lord for the next generation of 30-50 year olds who have stepped into the Christmas Tree ministry!  They did an awesome job this morning. Simply Sing I'm sick at home with a cold and cough and missing being with my brothers and sisters in Christ at church. Yes, I know I can still listen online and I'm certain God is up to good.  I began the morning with praise and heard a song by Kim Walker'Smith, Naomis Raine, and We are Messengers, which was new to me.  Take a moment to simply sing praise to an amazing God who calls us to come to him. The Song   “God   You Are” We are messengers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgoQwcpnGdw When I was young, you called my name  I tried to run, but still you came And you s...

A neighbor across the cove from us sent this photo of our house being at the end of the rainbow. That same day a young woman, very dear to me, emailed about a period of heartache she is going through in regards to a broken relationship. God gave us the rainbow as a symbol of his divine mercy and grace.  His promise of redemption and that he will never destroy the earth by flood again. Destruction brings us down, especially when it involves relationships.  We long for things/people to bring us the satisfaction our relationship with God can only fill. After an early morning God encounter, I emailed this precious woman knowing she would relate to the longing I was experiencing. She lived in my hometown for a period of time and she too loved my sweet Daddy. My note: "Awakening early, there was a longing in my heart to be able to walk into my daddy's house and just visit. Tears gathered in my eyes, as I told the Lord how much I miss my father who had the sweetest smile, sparkling b...