Boojoyful

A picture can say a 1000 words and it also can make you think about Jesus. #22, our oldest grandchild holds a big piece of my heart. Persevere We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  2 Corinthians 4:8-10 The Hand Off Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Look Up, God is watching. The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. Psalm 33:13-15 Facing our enemies, remembering God (The Referee) is with us. For the...

A friend owns Smith Mt Lake Sourdough Company. Look at this gorgeous and delicious creation. Hoop Dee Doo!  Scripture never grows old!  My current Bible study sent me to Luke 6:27-36.  Yup, the familiar "Loving Your Enemies" passage.   Here's a check list. Verses 27-31 in the CEV Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you.   Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you.   If someone slaps you on one cheek, don't stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek.  If someone wants to take your coat, don't try to keep back your shirt.   Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you.   Treat others just as you want to be treated. Verses 35-36 But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back.   Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven.  He is good even to people...

  Moonriver Lane dressed for fall. 6AM on a Saturday morning, as my husband came inside from hauling tarps of leaves in the woods in the dark, wearing his trusty headlamp, I said, "Come back to bed. I actually believe we have a "do nothing" Saturday." He showered and climbed in to bed. 7:35 AM a text came in from a neighbor telling me a friend's husband had died. Texting said friend, I said, "Would you like for me to come over?"  She said, "Yes,  come eat breakfast with me, my nephew is cooking." 9:45 AM Leaving our friend's house,  we headed to the grocery store, because the night before a sweet widow friend texted she'd been in the ER all day and was home and not doing well, so we offered to bring her soup.  She shared that there are moments she starts coughing due to this lung disease and she thinks "Surely I'm going to die this time."  Her faith is so strong and she looks forward to joining her husband in heaven. Two...

Praying for four grandchildren with sporting events this particular week,  I felt the Lord say, “ Tell them to keep their heads on.”   Hmm, was that meant literally or figuratively. This is what I sent. Looking for verses about keeping your head about you, what first came up was the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling.  “ If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you ... If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,” It reflects timeless Biblical principles like perseverance and humility. The line, ‘If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs,’ brings to mind Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds. Here’s another great verse for this week’s games. But I want you to keep your head no matter what happens.  Don’...

Living in America Here's a sneak it in on Sunday! November 4th is election day in Virginia.  Below is a compilation of prayers for such a time as this that a group of women are getting together at Shiloh to pray over. The 12 Points of Prayer at the end were on a card our church passed out before the 2024 election.  Thought you might want to file these away for the future. Election Prayers Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Pray for candidates to seek God’s guidance.     Dear Lord, thank You that we have government representatives who believe Your truth. Remind them to seek Your guidance as they make decisions that affect our country and world. Send them godly wisdom and good counselors. And give election candidates the strength to choose...

A sassy, fall, maple tree near the front door of Shiloh. Do you enjoy passing along to others things that brighten a day and bring you joy? Here's one of those things for me. The Bless Every Home App is an excellent tool that guides you in ways to pray for your neighbors.  When you put in your address, it sends you the names and addresses of your neighbors and allows you to customize how many days a week you want to receive a list and how many people you want to pray for.  Then on those days it sends you a fabulous prayer to pray. The Bless Every Home App  https://app.blesseveryhome.com Currently, they have added a new opportunity called "The 21 Day Challenge." This email includes a video and prayer to encourage you in the "loving your neighbors" process. HA!  Being the neighbors of Shiloh can probably be a challenge. I'm hoping we have a neighbor doing this for us!  Add us on to your list! Here are a couple examples.  Day 4  https://app.blesseveryhom...

  Missing the Shiloh butterflies.This one would sit next to me on the dock and even lit on my shoe for quite awhile. Digging into Day 4 of CBS  this week landed us in Ephesians 6:13- 17 and remembering the importance of putting on the armor of God. Dressing in the suggested spiritual armor shields us from the "Devil darts" that fly about everyday.  Upon finishing the lesson I started to put on an audio book while I was getting ready for church, but felt the Spirit saying, “Why don’t you listen to praise music instead.” Clicking on the contemporary Christian genre on Pandora and I was in for a blessing that truly enhanced what we have been studying.  Check out these songs!     The song choices God sent me were so much better than my audio book. The last three were totally new to me.  If you are just going to do one, go with “Father, Let it Be”  These lyrics had to have come from the Psalms. “This is Our God” Phil Wickham    https://www.yo...

  Fall in Minnesota I have no clue what I was even listening to when I heard this quote on my phone.. . "In the screen world participation is optional." The program was talking about how with the swipe of a finger or the click of a mouse, we quickly make the choice what we want to land on. My husband and I reflected on how, when doing research for a school paper, we had to be driven to the library, search through the card catalog and then comb the shelves to see if the book we needed was checked "in" or "out."   How many of you remember these on a shelf at your home?  They were so heavy!   Nowadays, you can click on article after article until you find one that agrees with your viewpoint. Back to the quote I heard... "In the screen world participation is optional."   The other point being made was that so many people find no need to interact with others, just with their screen.  That is not how we were created to exist. In the garden God said, ...

  What are things that are good to be firm?  HA! I googled this and the first page was filled with plastic surgery options for sagging skin.  I'll hold to what one of our grandchildren said to me, "Mama Boo, I like you.  You are squishy. "💗  In response to the question I was thinking more along the lines of a mattress, relationship, business deal, vacation plans, the way I order my bananas and avocados on click list, etc. What brought me to the place of perusing "firm" things was my husband reading Isaiah 26:3 over me. The   Lord   gives perfect peace   to those whose faith is firm.  Isaiah 26:3 Put me on a Bosu balance ball and I will waiver, well maybe wobble would be more accurate. I'd like to say, "But my faith doesn't waiver."  Sleepless nights and worrisome thoughts point to the truth that I'm not exhibiting an Isaiah 26:3 life. And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that...