Boojoyful

There was jumping for joy in our yard this past weekend as a Candy Fairy and a Dinosaur ran around on a beautiful fall day. October 31 We were having such a terrible drought in our area.  Neglecting to water several potted boxwoods left them all dried up and having to be tossed out.  (So, glad God doesn't do that to us.)  Early one morning that same week I noticed the white petunias on our deck were quite perky and dancing in the breeze!  They were so happy because God had coated them with refreshing dew! " You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; and the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12 May we position ourselves each day to allow for God's refreshment to fall upon us!

October 30 Texting a single friend, whom I haven't seen in church, small group or the neighborhood for a month, I typed, "Are you okay, haven't seen you in a month?"  She filled me in on life and we had a good chat. Moments later I thought about how people can go months (their entire lives) without checking in with God.  We know He's good and totally sufficient, but He created us to be in relationship with him and that's takes two-way interaction. " But I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Revelation 2:4 On October 21 I came under conviction reading this quote in Jesus Always , "If your life revolves around someone other than Me, you need to repent-changing your ways." I kid you not, just as I was deep into these thoughts and pouring my love out to the Lord, my earthly Love, waltzed into the room, singing and dancing a jig.  My heart wavered between stopping my quiet time with the Lord and losing ...

October 27 While on the phone with my BSF leader Monday night tornado warnings were swirling across the TV screen.  Laughingly, I told her that if we got taken up tonight we could rejoice because we'd be dancing together in heaven the next day!   When I hung up the phone from chatting, my husband came back into the room. He said, while you were chatting away it was pretty scary here. (Says the man who went outside to see if he could see a funnel.) Had our children or grandchildren been here we would have been downstairs in an interior room, but there's such a peace about eternity and that the best is yet to come we are slower to panic these days. The BSF leader said, "I appreciate how you are able to laugh and find joy in every situation." Why is that I thought? 1) Because I know the best is to come in heaven. Revelation 21:1-4 2) Because I know it beats the alternative of growing anxious. Philippians 4:6 3) Because my life verse begins with "Be j...

October 26 The prayer needs of others in my path have been huge lately.  So many facing multiple needs. Praying for an individual the other day I found myself saying, God be her All in All!  This song came to mind.   http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=7GGYLGNX You are my strength when I am weak You are the treasure that I seek You are my all in all. Seeking You as a precious jewel Lord, to give up I'd be a fool. You are may all in all. Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name.   I sent her a prayer similar to the one below.  Maybe it will speak to your heart as well. God, you have shown yourself to us as Sustainer, Diagnostician, Merciful Father, and Path Director. There are times we need you to be our Spokesperson and Negotiator in specific situations.  We know You are our Trusted Lord.  You are the One who sees the future and knows what is best for us.  We will not panic, but praise You as you are...

October 25 We were blessed to be able to make a hospital run the other day to sit with friends whose daughter was facing a medical battle.  The evening before in our small group setting we had been challenged to open our eyes to where God wanted us to serve. When the call came the next morning, concerning our friends' situation, it was a no brainer...we were to shift the order of our day and GO. While in the big city (Roanoke) the rains were pouring down (praise the Lord), so we decided to take in a movie. The Same Kind of Different as Me  was worth every penny.  It is about a woman who truly sees through God's eyes and serves the homeless.  It packs a powerful punch with a great reminder that we are all homeless here on earth, for this is not our home! "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..." Philippians 3:20 Looking up serve  in the dictionary one definition was attend to  anoth...

October 24 Sitting out on our deck I was chatting on the phone with a friend about the pain I'm experiencing. While we were talking I was watching a hummingbird three feet away suck nectar from a flower. Then out of the blue that little bird flew right up to my face.  I squealed out of shock, thinking she was headed for my nose, and off she flew.  My girlfriend on the phone said, "She thought your hair looked like fabulous nesting material!  Next a bee flew in for some flower sucking and then a black and blue butterfly headed right for me head. God's creators brought me such laughter!  It was as if he was offering a distraction from the pain I'm in and offering the opportunity to remember who He is! The God of the butterfly, the God of the bee, the God of the hummingbird and the God who loves me! " Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:8  Open your eyes and see Him speaking to you today!

Loved it when this family of life long friends popped in by water to visit! October 23 While cleaning off my desk, a very old envelope fell upon the floor.  The front of it said, "For Betty." Inside, on a cut-in-half index card, was this note to my mother. "Dear Betty,      Keep this by your bed for the New Year. It is a comforting thought and also quite true. Best wishes for 1975.  Love, Bubbles"  (Isn't that a great nickname!) Also enclosed was a small, cutout article titled: "Thought of the Month...Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" It reads: "There are two days in every week about which we should not worry: One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. The other day is tomorrow, with its possible adversities and blunders. Until its sun rises we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn. That leaves only one day-today. Any man can fight the...