Boojoyful

A friend was giving a devotional on Psalm 23. She shared how she liked the CEV version which says God " let"  David rest, instead of " makes"  him rest. Psalm 23:1-2  CEV and then in the ESV You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. You let me rest in fields of green grass.  or The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. Reading different translations can help meet us where we are.  At my age I relate to CEV, Thank You, Lord, for letting  me rest! The ESV takes me back to motherhood when, knowing what was best for my children, I often had to make  them rest. I appreciate the fatherly love of God who knows when we are on overload, going full steam and He steps in and makes us rest. Now, we could get into the differences of needs and wants  in those translations,  but instead, I am going to take a rest!  The Song "The 23rd Psalm" Phil Wickham and Tiffany Hudson https://www.youtube.com/watc...

  Photoa are of my usual getaway with Jesus spot.  It used to have a gas fireplace, so we could even meet in winter. Remember, these posts are real life, I'm couldn't make this stuff up. In 2019/2020 my in-laws both passed away.  My mother-in-law passed first and with my father-in-law's health not good, he did not want to have a service for her. Then he passed away during COVID and a service never happened.  Their remains were stored in a cabinet in our garage. My brother in law, who lives in NY,  has been making arrangements with a cemetery where other family members are buried here in VA to place their remains. M y husband went to retrieve the remains, but could find them nowhere.  Panic set in. What in the world could have happened?  I texted our daughter, "PRAY, long story, but we can't find your grandparents remains!"  Feeling like we'd searched everywhere, I moved the car out of the garage and stood in the middle and prayed. "Lord, please he...

If I had a do over in life, it would be to know God more deeply at an earlier age. There would have been more peace in my life and therefore I would have spread much more joy, because I would have pointed so many more people to the true source of that joy. A daily prayer for me these days when strife arises is "Show me what is really in my heart Father." Show me  where I need to change, so that there is only love in my heart like there is in Your's." "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. " Psalm 139:23-24 "Be forewarned, praying the verse above has the potential to convict you. To correct you. To redirect your life. To change the way you see yourself. To change how others see you." Craig Groeschel   "There's only love in the heart of God." Zach Williams The Song “Heart Of God” Zach Williams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

                                    If my boyfriend reads these he is going to get even. Looking outside, I realized my main squeeze of 47 years this week, had left his clippers on the front steps and the dew and sprinkler system were going to get them by morning. He retrieved them, but instead of taking them to the garage he came in, sat on our living room couch, and proceeded to pretend he was clipping his toe nails. Today, I stop to think back on the years. Laughter, forgiveness and knowledge of the steadfast love of God are what continue to see us through.  1 year anniversary in 1979  He helped me dance my way back from a major stroke in 2015. We'e chosen to sing in the rain at times we really wanted to cry. We've embraced life at Shiloh on Smith Mt Lake the past 27 years, believing God has a purpose for each day we are here. Behind us is the tree where my husband ...

Our son and daughter in law in Olympic National Park Hoh Rainforest Is the weather bringing us a high of 60 or 85 today? Fall weather can be tricky. On the day of this writing the temps started out at 58 and peeked to 85 degrees.  It's hard to know what to wear. Colossians 3:12-17 tells us what to put on spiritually to survive the climate of our hearts. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your he...

Paddling to summer's end. My heart was heavy over someone who had been wounded within the body of Christ. I wanted to run in their defense and wrote out everything I would say.  As I printed off the notes my body was trembling.  Evidence to me that my plan was not from the Lord. "Help me Jesus." I cried. That small still voice said, "Come walk with Me and I will show you the real problem in your heart."  And He did. Heading out to our Scripture trails God's Word brought calm and healing to my soul and God gave me sound instructions. "Pray for hearts to heal. Pray the relationships of brothers and sisters in Christ will heal and they will be able to serve the Lord more strongly than ever before. And sweet child of mine, know I always go before you." I turned my phone on to a contemporary Christian station and the songs below are what came on. They were healing to my soul. Each verse I came to on the trails spoke God's love and truth into my hear...

Beside different still waters. . ..and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left. your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying "This is the way. Walk in it."  Isaiah 30:21 If you are going to get lost, prayerfully it will be with someone you enjoy. Recently, while visiting another city, my husband and I embarked on an early morning walk. The host of the home where we were staying recommended a route. We took a screen shot of the route, it seemed fairly simple.  Chatting away, we unknowingly walked a mile past the turn off to the beautiful water view we'd been told we would see.  When we came to a very busy street I said, "Something isn't right." Fortunately, we had no morning agenda. The only issue became my knees tiring out. My comedic husband turned the debacle into a hilarious routine about a missing elderly couple.  We passed three men walking their dogs, but he would not let me ask for directions.  He did note that they all had pl...

Hole in the Wall, Rialto Beach These two take amazing adventures to places of God's astounding creation.   Prayer is where the action is.  It is also where the entire Godhead is at work. If the concept of the Trinity trips you up, be encouraged that even though God's ways are not our ways, His ways are perfect and created with divine purpose.  Today's explanation of the Trinity in relationship to prayer reflects how we all have our roles in life and the Trinity is no exception. If you have purchased The Passion Code go to Day 98. Hawkins teaches on this topic. He writes: "The source  of our prayer is the Father ...We are all God's creation, but we are not God's children until we put our faith and trust in Him alone. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God... John 1:12 The course  of our prayer is the Son. There is not access to the Father except through Jesus the Son.   There is only one Go...

  Our grandson enjoying the last days of summer in Minnetonka, MN Hat, chips and triple floats! For 100 days I was really blessed by O.S. Hawkins book, The Passion Code, 100 Days with Jesus.   So much to share! Twenty-seven years ago when we moved to Smith Mt Lake there was a large amount of acreage for sale beside us.  I felt the Lord impressing upon my heart that we should buy that land and use it as a retreat center for burned out pastors and their families. But me of little faith, couldn't imagine how we could afford it. Had we bought it, we could have easily sold off part of the land to cover the expense, but I wasn't trusting the Lord. Once again the Lord has this ministry idea stirring my heart.  I mentioned the phrase He keeps giving me "Beside Still Waters."   I can't remember how I got my hands on this little book, but I want to share what is written at the end of the book.  God has my attention for sure. Mission:Dignity "All the author's r...

  Yes, he's wearing a shoulder strap due to post surgery protocol while riding horse back riding. My comfort is that his orthopedic doc is a good friend of his and possibly with him Our Utah son enjoys being out in the wilderness and I'm sure often stops to get his bearings. Honest confessions. I'm old and I still love an actual map to figure out where I am going. The past 27 years we have lived in rural Franklin County, VA. Everything we need from groceries/restaurants to doctors can be obtained on two intersecting roads. We only have to go less than a mile out of our driveway to get to the first road. Our dentist, PCP, optometrist, PT and pharmacy are all within a 2 block walk of one another.    Life is simple.   When we travel to see our grands in larger cities, getting our bearings can be overwhelming.  Recently, I found myself continually praying "Lord, please guide us and protect us." when we were in the car.  He did!  Hallelujah! Leslie Bennett...

  I will love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Proverbs 8:17 Pulling in to a Lowe's about 30 miles from our home, my hope was to gather some pumpkins and a couple hydrangea bushes to replace two which had died this summer. Waiting in line behind a woman my age, I was admiring two jade fern shrubs on her cart and simply asked, "Are those deer resistant?"  "Who knows!" she replied, "This year they've even eaten my coleus." My husband had headed to the car with our cart and the same woman was standing outside the garden shop waiting for her husband to pull upn when I exited.  She asked me where I lived. Out of the blue, in the midst of our chit chat, tears welled in her eyes and she said, "We are on our way to bury my father." Wrapping her in my arms, I prayed over her as she wept. I almost missed the moment had I not commented on her new bushes. Now, I have a new friend and I hope we have the opportunity t...

This waffle came with pecans, caramel, cinnamon, whipped cream,  butter and 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream. While my husband was laid out in our room, deep in a post waffles with ice cream coma, I chose to sit pool side on our fall getaway. The Bible study I was working on took me directly to Proverbs 23:20-21. I laughed out loud!  There is no way anyone can convince me that we do not have an omniscient God ruling over our lives and that He has a great sense of humor! The Song "How Great is Our God" Chris Tomlin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBD18rsVJHk

It's field hockey season and we are so thankful to be able to get to some of our granddaughter's games in VA Beach.  Me oh, my! This sport takes endurance, focus and courage! May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you   to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.  Romans 15:5 ESV   Our world needs to live in harmony with one another. I do not like controversy and my heart aches over the political and religious unrest that comes between people. I'm all for Danny Gokey's life principal..."Love God and love people."   The memory of 9/11 will be forever ingrained on my mind. So may lives lost and so many others forever changed. Another day that left me shell shocked was at 16 years old when   grandfather was murdered for money. Such a tragedy this week to see 31 year old Charlie Kirk shot and killed.  Our grandchildren who followed him are in disbelief that this could happen. This young man, who welcomed...